Usually, men have 3 to 5 erections during the night as they sleep. Your doctor may use an overnight erection test to see whether you’re able to get an erection.
By asking about your sexual history -- your relationships, sex drive, if you ever get erections -- they can begin to figure out whether the problem is more likely to be physical or mental. Be honest with your doctor; they can’t help you if you withhold information.
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Problems in your relationship with your sexual partner can also cause erectile dysfunction. Improving your relationship may help your sex life. If you decide to seek therapy, it will probably be most effective if your sex partner is included.
No nitrate-based drugs should be given to men with suspected heart attacks if they have taken PDE5i medications within 24 hours. Combining PDE5i with nitrate-based medications can cause a severe and dramatic drop in blood pressure with potentially very dangerous consequences. This is also why someone should absolutely never share PDE5i medications with anyone else. If they happen to be taking one of the drugs that interacts dangerously with PDE5i medications, the results could be very serious. If there is any question about possible drug interactions, always check with a doctor or pharmacist.
Vardenafil (Levitra) was the second oral medicine approved by the U.S. FDA for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Like sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) inhibits PDE5, which destroys cGMP (as discussed earlier). It is the only PDE 5 inhibitor that has a generic form available.
Erythrocytosis has been noted in men on TRT, and should be monitored every 6–12 months depending upon the patients’ response to changes in haematocrit levels. For mild elevations, the dosage of testosterone can be decreased or the interval of using the medication can be increased. With the haematocrit greater than 50%, decisions to temporarily discontinue the medication or periodic phlebotomy may be indicated.38
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.
Exercising on a regular basis boosts the blood flow to the pelvis and allows the reproductive organs to function properly. Not just this, exercising also strengthens the core of the body. Exercises that strengthen the muscles of the pelvic floor can benefit the people suffering from erectile dysfunction. The pelvic floor muscles are important in sustaining the blood flow to the penis and maintaining erections. The muscles do this by putting the pressure on the penile veins. The pressure then prevents blood from leaving the area, making an erection possible.
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If you smoke, talk to your doctor about quitting and whether prescription aids can help you.
Use the links below to find information relating to various urological procedures.
Urology Care Foundation is an organization that supports and improves urological care by funding research, developing patient education, and pursuing financial support. They offer downloadable fact sheets and patient guides to help you understand ED.
Other medical therapies under evaluation include ROCK inhibitors and soluble guanyl cyclase activators. Melanocortin receptor agonists are a new set of medications being developed in the field of erectile dysfunction. Their action is on the nervous system rather than the vascular system. PT-141 is a nasal preparation that appears to be effective alone or in combination with PDE5 inhibitors. The main side effects include flushing and nausea. These drugs are currently not approved for commercial use.
Psychoteraphy is often the first form of treatment recommended for depression. Psychotherapy helps depression by helping people understand the behaviors, emotions and ideas that contribute to their depression, regain a sense of control and pleasure in life, and learn coping techniques as well as problem solving skills.
A number of medical treatment options exist for erectile dysfunction include the following:
As part of BAUS membership, registered members may join Urolink and up to three other sections which are relevant to their particular areas of practice.
There are many potential causes for erectile dysfunction, such as these conditions/circumstances: Vascular conditions: High blood pressure Elevated cholesterol Cardiovascular disease Diabetes Trauma: Spinal cord injury Pelvis injury Neurologic disease: Stroke Parkinson’s disease Alzheimer’s disease Radiation to the pelvis for cancer Endocrine: Hypogonadism (low testosterone) Hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin levels) Pelvis surgery: Radical prostatectomy (a surgical procedure for the partial or complete removal of the prostate) Surgeries for rectal cancer or bladder cancer Medication side effects: Antidepressants Antihypertensives (high blood pressure medicine) Antiandrogens (testosterone blockers) Antiarrhythmics (heart rhythm medicine) Alcohol Cigarette smoking Cocaine and marijuana Diabetes & ED View full infographic.