How Do You Know If You Have Erectile Dysfunction?
Posted by: Men's Health Boston in Sexual Dysfunction on April 12, 2021
Are you worried that you may have erectile dysfunction? Do you feel more stressed than aroused when you think about spending time in the bedroom with your significant other?
If you’ve been concerned that you may have this condition, continue reading to learn more.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (also known as ED or impotence) is a common problem among men. ED happens when a man is unable to get or maintain a firm erection while having sexual intercourse.
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
You may be wondering why this is happening to you. Psychological or physical factors may cause erectile dysfunction.
Mental health plays an integral part in your ability to become aroused. Stress, depression, and anxiety can lead to problems in the bedroom.
Have you often felt distracted by your thoughts and emotions? Is it almost impossible to turn them off and focus entirely on your partner?
Left untreated, ED can cause you to have:
● Poor self-esteem
● Relationship strain
● Embarrassment
● Stress and anxiety
Additionally, you may experience a reduced desire for sex because of a physical ailment. Any of the following conditions could also result in having erectile dysfunction:
● You’ve had an injury to your groin area
● Low hormones or testosterone levels
● High cholesterol or blood pressure
● Having a sleep disorder where you don’t get enough sleep
● Poor health, including being diabetic, overweight, or smoking, drinking alcohol, or using drugs
● Bladder cancer
● Prostate surgery
● If you have metabolic syndrome, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, or Peyronie’s disease
● Medications used to treat things like high blood pressure or depression may cause ED
Prevention and Treatment
Having erectile dysfunction may be a lot to take in and a bit overwhelming at first. There is help, as ED is often treatable or curable!
Treatment options are many and depend on the cause. Once your doctor has determined the root cause of your erectile dysfunction, they will discuss what treatment they recommend.
Treatment may be one or more of the following:
Counseling/therapy
If it seems like erectile dysfunction is related to your stress level, depression, or anti-depressant medication, or any other psychological symptoms, your doctor may have you start counseling or therapy.
Medications
Oral medications like Viagra (sildenafil) or Cialis (tadalafil) increase the effect of nitric oxide, which is a chemical in your body that relaxes the muscles in your penis. This allows for the increase of blood flow needed for a firm erection when sexually stimulated.
Testosterone Replacement Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy involves replacing testosterone, usually in the form of injections or implantable pellets. This can help restore low testosterone and improve ED and sex drive.
Penis pump or Vacuum
A hand or battery-powered device that creates a vacuum. The vacuum pulls blood into your penis and helps you get an erection. This can be used with a constriction band or ring around the penis to hold the erection firm.
Sonic Wave Therapy
Sonic energy delivered to the penis is used to repair old blood vessels by stimulating new blood vessels’ growth and removing micro-plaque. This helps to improve the blood flow to your penis when you have an erection.
Platelet-Rich (PRP) Plasma Injections
PRP therapy is a shot takes a sample of the patient’s blood and puts it into a machine called a centrifuge. The centrifuge separates the sample into several components, including one that’s platelet-rich plasma.
The patient’s sample is then mixed with growth factors like TGF-a, PDGF, and VEGF, creating a shot that’s injected into their penis. The shot works because it builds new blood vessels, treats ED, and repairs any damaged tissues. This is an all-natural and drug-free way to treat erectile dysfunction.
Surgery
Surgery is a last resort after you’ve already tried the above options without success. A surgeon can implant an inflatable and bendable rod into your penis, which helps maintain your erection while sexually aroused.
Follow-up
After treatment, maintaining a healthy lifestyle will help to prevent future occurrences of erectile dysfunction. This includes eating a healthy diet, staying active, and cutting back on your daily alcohol consumption.
Making these changes can make a huge difference in how you feel physically and emotionally. That feeling will extend into the bedroom or wherever and whenever the mood happens to take you.
Only your doctor will be able to determine whether you have ED or not. They will review your medical history, give you a physical exam, test your blood and urine samples, and consider your mental health. After completing these, they will determine your treatment options.
If you’re concerned that you may have erectile dysfunction, don’t waste another day worrying about it. Schedule an appointment at Men’s Health Boston today!
