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Erectile Dysfunction

  • Evaluation – Office Sildenafil Test

  • Medical Management

  • Penile Prsothesis - Shah Penile prosthesis (silicon); Malleable implants (Rigicon, Promedon, INS Tactra); Inflatable 3 piece – AMS

  • Vacuum Therapy

Overview

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex.

Having erection trouble from time to time isn't necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease.

Causes

Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these. Likewise, stress and mental health concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological issues causes erectile dysfunction. For instance, a minor physical condition that slows your sexual response might cause anxiety about maintaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Physical causes of erectile dysfunction

In many cases, erectile dysfunction is caused by something physical. Common causes include:

  • Heart disease

  • Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)

  • High cholesterol

  • High blood pressure

  • Diabetes

  • Obesity

  • Metabolic syndrome — a condition involving increased blood pressure, high insulin levels, body fat around the waist and high cholesterol

  • Parkinson's disease

  • Multiple sclerosis

  • Certain prescription medications

  • Tobacco use

  • Peyronie's disease — development of scar tissue inside the penis

  • Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse

  • Sleep disorders

  • Treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate

  • Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord

  • Low testosterone

Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction

The brain plays a key role in triggering the series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with feelings of sexual excitement. A number of things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. These include:

  • Depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions

  • Stress

  • Relationship problems due to stress, poor communication or other concerns

Risk factors

As you get older, erections might take longer to develop and might not be as firm. You might need more direct touch to your penis to get and keep an erection.

Various risk factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction, including:

  • Medical conditions, particularly diabetes or heart conditions

  • Tobacco use, which restricts blood flow to veins and arteries, can — over time — cause chronic health conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction

  • Being overweight, especially if you're obese

  • Certain medical treatments, such as prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer

  • Injuries, particularly if they damage the nerves or arteries that control erections

  • Medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines and medications to treat high blood pressure, pain or prostate conditions

  • Psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety or depression

  • Drug and alcohol use, especially if you're a long-term drug user or heavy drinker

Complications

Complications resulting from erectile dysfunction can include:

  • An unsatisfactory sex life

  • Stress or anxiety

  • Embarrassment or low self-esteem

  • Relationship problems

  • The inability to get your partner pregnant

Prevention

The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction is to make healthy lifestyle choices and to manage any existing health conditions. For example:

  • Work with your doctor to manage diabetes, heart disease or other chronic health conditions.

  • See your doctor for regular check-ups and medical screening tests.

  • Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol, and don't use illegal drugs.

  • Exercise regularly.

  • Take steps to reduce stress.

  • Get help for anxiety, depression or other mental health concerns.

Oral Medications

Oral medications are a successful erectile dysfunction treatment for many men. They include:

  • Sildenafil

  • Tadalafil

  • Vardenafil

All four medications enhance the effects of nitric oxide — a natural chemical your body produces that relaxes muscles in the penis. This increases blood flow and allows you to get an erection in response to sexual stimulation.

Taking one of these tablets will not automatically produce an erection. Sexual stimulation is needed first to cause the release of nitric oxide from your penile nerves. These medications amplify that signal, allowing normal penile function in some people. Oral erectile dysfunction medications are not aphrodisiacs, will not cause excitement and are not needed in people who get normal erections.

The medications vary in dosage, how long they work and side effects. Possible side effects include flushing, nasal congestion, headache, visual changes, backache and stomach upset.

Your doctor will consider your particular situation to determine which medication might work best. These medications might not treat your erectile dysfunction immediately. You might need to work with your doctor to find the right medication and dosage for you.

Before taking any medication for erectile dysfunction, including over-the-counter supplements and herbal remedies, get your doctor's OK. Medications for erectile dysfunction do not work in everyone and might be less effective in certain conditions, such as after prostate surgery or if you have diabetes. Some medications might also be dangerous if you:

  • Take nitrate drugs — commonly prescribed for chest pain (angina) — such as nitroglycerin (Nitro-Dur, Nitrostat, others), isosorbide mononitrate (Monoket) and isosorbide dinitrate (Isordil, Bidil)

  • Have heart disease or heart failure

  • Have very low blood pressure (hypotension)

Advanced Therapies

Other medications for erectile dysfunction include:

Intrapenile self-injection. (ICIVAD - IntraCavernosal Injection of Vasoactive Drug) With this method, you use a fine needle to inject BIMIX or TRIMIX into the base or side of your penis. bimix (if two medications are included) or trimix (if three are included).

Each injection is dosed to create an erection lasting no longer than an hour. Because the needle used is very fine, pain from the injection site is usually minor.

Side effects can include mild bleeding from the injection, prolonged erection (priapism) and rarely, formation of fibrous tissue at the injection site.

For further details see special services

Alprostadil urethral suppository. Alprostadil (Muse) intraurethral therapy involves placing a tiny alprostadil suppository inside your penis in the penile urethra. You use a special applicator to insert the suppository into your penile urethra.

The erection usually starts within 10 minutes and, when effective, lasts between 30 and 60 minutes. Side effects can include a burning feeling in the penis, minor bleeding in the urethra and formation of fibrous tissue inside your penis.

Penis pumps, surgery and implants

If medications aren't effective or appropriate in your case, your doctor might recommend a different treatment. Other treatments include:

Penis pumps. A penis pump (vacuum erection device) is a hollow tube with a hand-powered or battery-powered pump. The tube is placed over your penis, and then the pump is used to suck out the air inside the tube. This creates a vacuum that pulls blood into your penis.

Once you get an erection, you slip a tension ring around the base of your penis to hold in the blood and keep it firm. You then remove the vacuum device.

The erection typically lasts long enough for a couple to have sex. You remove the tension ring after intercourse. Bruising of the penis is a possible side effect, and ejaculation will be restricted by the band. Your penis might feel cold to the touch.

If a penis pump is a good treatment choice for you, your doctor might recommend or prescribe a specific model. That way, you can be sure it suits your needs and that it's made by a reputable manufacturer.

Penile implants (detailed explanation in specialised services) This treatment involves surgically placing devices into both sides of the penis. These implants consist of either inflatable or malleable (bendable) rods. Inflatable devices allow you to control when and how long you have an erection. The malleable rods keep your penis firm but bendable.

Penile implants are usually recommended after other methods have been tried first. Implants have a high degree of satisfaction among those who have tried and failed more-conservative therapies. As with any surgery, there's a risk of complications, such as infection. Penile implant surgery is not recommended if you currently have a urinary tract infection.

Exercise

Recent studies have found that exercise, especially moderate to vigorous aerobic activity, can improve erectile dysfunction.

Even less strenuous, regular exercise might reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. Increasing your level of activity might also further reduce your risk.

Discuss an exercise plan with your doctor.

Psychological Counselling

If your erectile dysfunction is caused by stress, anxiety or depression — or the condition is creating stress and relationship tension — your doctor might suggest that you, or you and your partner, visit a psychologist or counsellor.