| Erectile dysfunction (ED), sometimes called "male impotence," is the recurrent inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for intercourse.
Hormones, blood vessels, nerves, and muscles must all work together to cause an erection trigger an erection. An erection starts, as soon as the brain has sent nerve signals to the penis, providing there is sexual stimulation. Touching may cause this arousal. Visual images can also start the chemical process in the brain. It may also be a sexual thought or dream.
The nerve signals sent from the brain cause the muscles within the penis to relax and allow blood stream into the spongy tissue of the sex organ. Blood collects in this tissue like water filling a sponge. As a result, the penis gets larger and firmer, like an inflated balloon. The veins in the penis then close off to prevent blood from flowing out.
There are several triggers of erectile dysfunction. Most male sexual problems are brought on by physical factors, including blood vessel disorders, neurological disorders and abnormalities in the penile area.
In older men, it is commonly due to a physical cause, including disease, injury, side effects of medication. Any medical condition that causes injury to the nerves or damages blood flow in the penis has the potential to trigger erectile dysfunction.
The incidence of ED escalates with age. About 5 percent of 40-year-old men and between 15 percent and 25 percent of 65-year-old men have ED. Yet, it is not an inevitable facet of aging.
ED can be cured irrespective of age, and awareness of this fact has been growing. More males have been seeking medical treatment and returning to regular sexual activity due to advanced effective treatment options for ED. Some treatment techniques include:
- Life-style changes (for instance, losing excessive weight, quitting smoking, and exercising more)
- Getting specialist consultation
- Drugs (for instance, Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis)
- Vacuum device
- Implanted devices.
In rare cases, surgery involving veins or arteries may be recommended for ED treatment. The amount of scientific research being done on medications for ED treatment is expanding fast. Patients should speak with their medical practitioner about the latest advances. |
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