Erectile dysfunction or impotence is the inability to get and maintain an erection sufficient to commence sexual intercourse. Having trouble getting an erection now and then is common.
However, suppose the problem persists and affects your sex life significantly. In that case, it might be time to consult a doctor and look for erectile dysfunction solutions.
Untreated erectile dysfunction can cause stress and affect your relationship with your partner if not treated longer term. The condition, however, is considered erectile dysfunction only when:
- You are entirely incapable of getting and holding an erection
- You can get an erection, but for an inadequate period
Table of Contents
- When Do Erections Occur?
- What Are The Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction?
- Latest Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Options To Look Into
- How To Choose The Right Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Option?
- In Conclusion
What Are The Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction can be either psychological or physical. Depression, mental health issues, anxiety, and stress mostly cause psychological erectile dysfunction. This type of erectile dysfunction is characterised by difficulty getting a firm erection during sexual activity.
ED can be caused by a wide range of psychological conditions, including:
- Stress
- Depression
- Unresolved trauma
- Health problems and family history can cause stress on mental health
- Anxiety
- Low self-esteem
- Dysfunctional relationship
Physical erectile dysfunction is caused by health conditions like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, smoking, alcoholism, use of certain medications and sleep disorders. However, in most cases, erectile dysfunction is more of a symptom of the physical ailment.
While physical erectile dysfunction can be treated with the help of medication or minimally invasive surgeries, the psychological causes take time to get under control. Regardless, there is no one erectile dysfunction treatment for all patients.
Latest Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Options To Look Into
Erectile dysfunction treatment is decided by the doctor based on whether psychological or physical factors cause it. While these treatment options do not cure the condition, they help manage it effectively.
Currently, there are several erectile dysfunction treatment options available that can be categorised in two different sections:
- Non-Surgical Treatment
- Surgical Treatment
Let’s explore each of these categories in detail to understand the options at hand in detail.
Non-Surgical Erectile Dysfuntion Treatments
Medications:
Oral medications like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are effective erectile dysfunction treatment options for men. Nitric oxide, a naturally occurring chemical, helps relax the penis muscles. These medicines boost the effect of nitric oxide and increase blood flow, thus enabling the person to get a proper erection in response to sexual stimulation.
When Are They Recommended?
These medicines are mostly consumed on-demand before starting sexual intercourse and are mostly recommedned by doctors for mild erectile dysfunction cases. Medications along with changes in lifestyle is advised by doctors to counter mild erectile dysfunction symptioms.
Lifestyle Modifications:
Your doctor might also ask you to make specific changes in your lifestyle to help improve erectile dysfunction. These changes include:
- Limiting alcohol intake or completely stopping it
- Quit smoking
- Start exercising to maintain healthy body weight.
- Quitting illegal drug use
You can always consult your doctor if you are having trouble making these lifestyle modifications.
Is This The Right Treatment For You?
In most cases, but particularly so in the case of temporary erectile dysfunctions, most doctors ask their patients to carry out some lifestyle changes to counter the condition. Depending on your current health status, the specialist will make these recommendations.
They can also prescribe medications like Viagra and Cialis to get an on-demand erection till the issue is resolved. However, the dosage will be determined by the doctor.
Penile Injection Therapy:
Doctors usually recommend penile injection therapy when oral medications have failed to help you get an erection or your physical health does not support the correct dosage of PDE-5 inhibitors.
Penile injections are minimally invasive erectile dysfunction treatment options where you inject prescription medication directly into the penis five to ten minutes before having sex.
This treatment is very effective, with high success rates reported by men who have resorted to it to enjoy everyday sex life.
This procedure uses a very thin needle to administer the medication, which makes it significantly less painful. However, many have reported that the sensation feels similar to pulling the hair on the back of the hand.
When Would This Treatment Be Recommended?
This treatment is largely successful and is used by many men under doctor’s advisement. Such treatments are usually coupled with a secondary care therapy like lifestyle modications to treat the root cause of the dysfunction.
Vacuum Constriction Device:
This external pump is used for getting and maintaining an erection. The VCD helps in getting an erection, and a band that is attached to the VCD assists in maintaining it. VCD is mainly used to treat erectile dysfunctions caused due to the following factors:
- Nerve damage that affects erection
- Poor flow of blood into the penile shaft
- Excessive blood flows out of the penile shaft while getting an erection.
Is This The Right Treatment For You?
Given that VCDs have minimal side effects and are safe, they are mostly recommended for anxiety-induced erectile dysfunction. So, if you are living with mental issues like depression, panic attacks, and anxiety, this is a common treatment recommendation by health professionals.
Surgical Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Penile Prosthetic Surgery:
ED specialists recommend this option when all other methods have failed to counter the problem.
With this treatment, two implants are placed on either side of the penis, allowing you to get an erection and maintain it while having sex. Penile prosthetic surgery is the last resort when the more traditional approaches have failed.
When Would This Treatment Be Recommended?
Doctors resort to surgical treatment methods in extreme erectile dysfunction cases that cannot be treated with medications oe lifestyle changes. Surgical treatments are mostly recommened to people who are suffering from diseases like diabetes or undergoing cancer treatment.
So, if you fall into this category and your doctor has recommended this treatment it would be best to follow their professional advice.
Final Words
As you can see, there are several kinds of surgical and non-surgical treatments available for countering erectile dysfunction. While you can see the common treatment recommendations, it is essential to consult a specialist first so that they can diagnose adequately and develop a proper treatment plan.
The doctor might present you with one or more treatment options, which is why you need to know about these things in detail. After that, you can take an active role in your treatment and choose the best option for you.
The best place to start is with a reputed specialist and consult with them to get the proper treatment in due time. If you’re looking for a specialist in Sydney have a consultation with one of the most experienced urologists: Dr. Katelaris .
