Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Human needs sex just as they need to sleep at night. Sex is one of the requirements of the human body. Human existence on earth depends on sex. The reproductive function of humans is based on sex. Human produces children through sex. In this way, they advance their lineage. A man needs a fully erected penis to have successful sexual intercourse. But sometimes, due to some health issues, a man finds it difficult to erect his penis. In medical terms, this situation is called erectile dysfunction. In other words, erectile dysfunction is the inability to keep an erection firm enough to have successful sexual intercourse. It is also called impotence. The erectile dysfunction problem is not uncommon. There are millions of people around the world facing this problem.
Symptoms
There are several symptoms of erectile dysfunction. Some of them are;
- Trouble getting an erection
- Difficulty keeping an erection
- Reduction in sexual desire
- Premature ejaculation
- Delayed ejaculation
- Inability to achieve orgasm
These are some common erectile dysfunction symptoms. If any of the symptoms last more than three months, then one must see the doctor.
Causes
When a man gets sexually excited, the muscles of the penis get relaxed. This relaxation allows blood to flow in an increased amount in the penis. Resulting, the penis gets rigid and bigger. Erection in the penis is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. Any problem in these parts can cause erectile dysfunction. Some of the main causes of erectile dysfunction are as follows;
- Increasing age
- Stress
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Cholesterol
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Low testosterone
- Kidney disease
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Medication side effects
- Sleep disorders
- Drug use
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Injury in the pelvic area
- Parkinson’s disease
- Relationship problems
Treatment
There are many different treatment methods available to treat erectile dysfunction. In most of the cases, the main cause of the problem is a lifestyle and poor diet. Such cases can be treated by changing the diet, lifestyle, doing exercise, and taking some medications. There are many different medications available in the market that help to treat erectile dysfunction. Some of these medications are quite effective, like Bluechew. Some of the methods that can help to treat erectile dysfunction are as follows;
- Medications
- Special exercises (kegel exercise, Aerobic exercise, and Yoga)
- Healthy diet
- Supplements
- Acupuncture
- Prostatic massage
Prevention
In most cases, erectile dysfunction can be prevented. The most common scenario, erectile dysfunction, is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle and poor diet. There are several steps that one can take to prevent this problem. This problem can be prevented by making some small changes in the lifestyle. These small changes in the lifestyle will not only prevent this problem but will also improve overall health.
- Keep diabetes under control
- Exercise daily
- Maintain body weight
- Keep heart disease under control
- Eat healthily
- Take steps to reduce stress
- Take help to reduce anxiety and depression
- Avoid taking drugs
- Quit smoking
- Quit alcohol
What to do when pills don’t work?
Most of the erectile dysfunction cases can be treated with several medications and other treatment methods. Sometimes the combination of two treatment methods can be beneficial. However, in some serious cases, these methods do not work. And that time, this question arises. Today, medical science has progressed so much that nothing is impossible in the world. There are many other ways available for treating serious erectile dysfunction cases in modern medical science. The following are the five most effective methods of treating erectile dysfunction if the medications are not working.
1. Testosterone Therapy
With the help of advanced medical science, lower testosterone levels can be fixed by testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). This therapy is used to treat people with abnormal levels of testosterone. In many cases, erectile dysfunction problem occurs due to the lower level of testosterone in the body. With the help of this therapy, the erectile dysfunction problem can be solved. But just as this therapy has its benefits, it also has some side effects as well. Sometimes the side effects of this therapy can be life-threatening, so it is highly recommended that one should not go for this therapy without consulting the doctor.
2. Talk Therapy
Many cases of erectile dysfunction happen due to psychological reasons. Anyone can have psychological problems. Mostly, the psychological problems happen due to bad relationship experiences. If someone suffers from depression and anxiety due to a bad relationship, chances of erectile dysfunction problems increase. These are some psychological factors that can cause erectile dysfunction;
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Post-traumatic stress disorders
While treating such cases, talk therapy can work perfectly. In recent times, talk therapy has proved to be a very effective method not just for treating erectile dysfunction but also for other relationships and life-related problems.
3. Penis Pump
A penis pump or vacuum pump is a very effective device to treat erectile dysfunction. The penis pumps are a very reasonable treatment option, and it can be used without any special prescription of a doctor. Anyone can use these pumps as they are almost safe to use. In this method of treatment, a plastic tube is placed over the penis. Then with the help of a pump, the air draws outside by creating a vacuum. The change in air pressure causes blood to start engorging the blood vessels in the penis, resulting in an erection in the penis. At last, a hard elastic band is placed at the base of the penis to hold the erection.
4. Penis Injections
Penis Injections might sound worse, but the treatment is very effective. When the oral drug stops working, one can go for the penis injection method. With the help of this method, erectile dysfunction drugs can be directly injected into the body of the penis. The drug called ‘Alprostadil’ is often used in this treatment. With the help of this treatment, one can have an erection in just 5 to 20 minutes that can last up to half an hour. This method works perfectly in about 80% of people. Along with the penis injections advantages, there are some disadvantages as well;
- Pain
- Formation of scar due to needle
- Very long erection
- Infection
5. Surgery (Penile Implant)
When all the above methods fail, the only option remain is surgery. Penile implant surgery is the most effective treatment for erectile dysfunction. This treatment offers highly effective, spontaneous, and very hard erections on demand. In the penile implant surgery, a mechanical device or prosthesis is placed inside the penis. There are two types of implants, an inflatable implant, and a malleable implant. An inflatable implant allows using a pump to make an erection. A malleable implant allows adjusting the penis position manually. There are two disadvantages of penile implant surgery;
- If the device fails to work, it will require re-operation
- After the implant surgery, oral drugs and injections will no longer work
Conclusion
The erectile dysfunction problem is very common. Millions of men experience erectile dysfunction. There are many treatments available in medical science to cure it. Mostly, the problem is not so serious and can be treated with medications and other different methods. Even if the problem is serious, there are plenty of other treatment methods available in medical science. One should not feel ashamed while having this problem. Just tell the doctor about the problem and everything will be fine.