ED is usually easy to diagnose. If you are tempted to self-diagnose, talk to your doctor. He or she will want to make sure it isn’t related to another health condition.
The inability to achieve an erection is a symptom of an underlying health problem or a result of lifestyle factors that aren’t allowing the physiological mechanisms of an erection to unfold. For some men, this is only an occasional problem, which may be the result of increased stress, drinking alcohol or fatigue. But for men who experience erectile dysfunction more than 50 percent of the time when they are trying to engage in sexual activity, this may indicate that there’s a bigger health problem that needs to be addressed.
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You have a pelvic floor too! Exercising the muscles you use to hold in urine or gas can sometimes help you control erections and ejaculations. Squeeze them a few times a day, in quick bursts and long ones, for 10 seconds or so. Don’t hold your breath while you’re doing it. Those are different muscles.
Erectile dysfunction, or being unable to maintain an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse, affects a majority of men between the ages of 40 and 70. Appointments Request an Appointment
ED is defined as the inability to achieve a full erection or the inability to maintain an erection adequate for sexual intimacy. Other types of sexual dysfunction such as premature ejaculation and low libido may occur; however, the most common and disruptive problem in men is ED. Although most men will experience periodic episodes of ED, these episodes tend to become more frequent with advancing age.
A separate study of men ages 25-45 examined the effect of taking both L-arginine and pycnogenol together for ED treatment. Pycnogenol is the name for certain chemicals taken from a French pine tree. Men were given L-arginine for one month; nothing happened in the study.
Stress, both in and out of the bedroom, can make it difficult for a man to achieve an erection. Depression, anxiety, and the medications to treat them may also contribute to impotence.
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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) Treatment, is the new standard for effective and long-lasting ED treatments. Utilizing a general form of PRP, doctors are able to extract the patient’s blood, and reintroduce it into the genital area. These steps promote better sexual performance, stamina, sensation, and even length and girth; something no other safe treatment can offer.
The penile implant allows men to achieve an erection through an implanted device. These devices can be effective in restoring sexual activity for a man and his partner. At Yale Medicine, our doctors have specialized experience with placing the penile prosthesis.
Hackett G. Long-acting testosterone undecanoate improved diabetes control vs. placebo in a hypogonadal population with type 2 diabetes. J Sex Med 2011; 8: 1743–6095.
Management of EDOptimal management of ED involves shared decision-making between the patient, his partner, and the treating clinician.6 Underlying disease states and risk factors should be identified and treated or minimized.5 Contributing medications should be discontinued, or the dose should be reduced.5 A variety of nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic treatment options may be considered for ED treatment. Generally, oral medications are trialed first, and more invasive options are reserved for those who fail to respond to initial therapy.5,6
To achieve erection, a complex process has to take place within the man’s body. Because this process is so in-depth and complex, sexual dysfunction and ED are extremely common in men. It is estimated that as many as 30 million men in the United States are affected by ED (The National Institutes of Health).
If ignored, erectile dysfunction can lead to complications, such as an unsatisfactory sex life, low self-esteem, high anxiety, and relationship problems. Getting a partner pregnant also becomes difficult if a man suffers with erectile dysfunction.
In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled study, researchers found that oral administration of l-arginine in high doses (5 grams per day for a six-week period) significantly improved sexual function in men with erectile dysfunction, but only if the dysfunction was caused by decreased nitric oxide excretion. (26)
This is why a healthy circulatory system is key to maintaining penile health. In addition, stress causes nerve endings to be less receptive to incoming signals, making erection difficult.
Viagra can help you have an erection when sexual stimulation occurs. An erection will not occur just by taking a pill. Follow your doctor's instructions.