What is Erectile Dysfunction

What is erectile dysfunction?

Male impotence: inability to achieve or maintain an erection, premature ejaculation, or inability to ejaculate.

Physiology of Erection

Erection occurs when the blood flow to the penis increases, as a man becomes sexually aroused. This occurs via the secretion of a chemical called nitric oxide (NO). Blood vessels going to the penis dilate, and blood fills the penis causing it to become engorged. This will typically last until arousal is diminished, or orgasm is achieved.

The penis has 3 chambers, which fill with blood during an erection. When you're not sexually aroused the penile chambers are open and allow for the flow of blood through them. When sexual arousal occurs, the chambers remain open and the exit gates close. When this occurs the blood that remains in the penis gives you your erection. Once the penile gates close the amount of blood in the chambers will determine how you perform.

Recent research has helped to change our thinking about the most common causes of sexual dysfunction. For a long time it was assumed that almost all erection failures were caused by psychological factors-- stress, anxiety, and fear. While these factors can play a significant role, most experts now believe the major cause of impotence is physical. Simply stated, anything that interferes with blood flow to the sexual organs interferes with sexual function.

Penile erection is mediated by the nervous system, which when stimulated causes vasodilation and relaxation of the cavernosal smooth muscle, which ultimately leads to penile erection.

Physical causes of erectile dysfunction
•Alcohol and tobacco use
•Fatigue
•Brain or spinal-cord injuries
• Hypogonadism (which leads to lower testosterone levels)
•Multiple sclerosis
•Parkinson's disease
•Radiation therapy to the testicles
•Stroke
•Some types of prostate or bladder surgery
•Diabetes (high blood sugar)
•Hypertension (high blood pressure)
•Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
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Reasons of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction(ED) basically means difficulty in gaining and sustaining an erection. A survey conducted in 1999, indicates that over 2% of males seek help concerning Erectile Dysfunction. However, many more men suffer in silence and are often too embarrassed to seek a solution and admit their problem.
The causes for ED differ from one individual to another, and may be attributed to psychological problems such as stress at work or physical issues such as fatigue or any health problems that prevent blood from flowing through the penis properly. About a third of ED sufferers attribute psychological causes to low self esteem and depression, and so on. Chemicals exist in the body which are designed to make the penis soften after an erection has occurred.
Erectile Dysfunction may take place because of many reasons. It may happen as a result of reduced blood flow to the penis and nerve damage. And it may also take place because of some other reasons, like
• Diabetes
• Drugs
• Vascular disease
• Hormone disorders
• Pelvic trauma, surgery, radiation therapy
• Psychological conditions
• Venous leak
• Neurologic conditions
• Peyronie’s disease

Diabetes: Diabetes often damages the small blood vessels and nerves throughout the body. This can block the chances of nerve pulses and blood flow necessary for erection. About 60% of men suffering from Diabetes experience Erectile Dysfunction.

Drugs: There are many kinds of drugs known to cause Erectile Dysfunction available in the market. This includes drugs for high blood pressure, heart medication, antidepressants, sedatives and tranquilizers. Long term consumption of alcohol and illicit drugs may affect the vascular and nervous systems and are associated with erectile dysfunction.

Vascular disease: The hardening and narrowing of the arteries causes a reduction in blood flow resulting in Erectile Dysfunction. It is associated with age. It accounts for 50% to 60% of impotence in men over 60.

Hormone disorders: This is a rare cause. A rarely occurring condition called Testosterone deficiency (Deficiency of a potent androgenic hormone produced chiefly by the testes) can result in a loss of libido and thus loss of erection.
Pelvic Trauma, Surgery, Radiation Therapy: A pelvic trauma can damage the veins and nerves required for erection. Surgery of the colon, prostate, bladder, or rectum may damage the nerves and blood vessels involved in erection. Radiation therapy for prostate or bladder cancer also can permanently damage these nerves.
Psychological conditions: Worry, stress, guilt, anxiety and depression all can lead to Erectile Dysfunction. One may worry about the repetition, if he experiences a loss of erection once. This can produce anxiety associated with performance and may lead to chronic problems during sex.

Venous leak: Erection can’t be maintained if the veins in the penis are unable to prevent blood from leaving the penis during erection. Venous leak can be a result of injury, disease, or damage to the veins in the penis.

Neurological conditions: Spinal cord and brain injuries can cause Erectile Dysfunction when they interrupt the transfer of nerve impulses from the brain to the penis.

Peyronie’s Disease: This is a rare inflammatory condition that causes scarring of erectile tissues. Scarring produces curvature of the penis that can interfere with sexual functions and cause painful erections.
Viagra or many other drugs including their generic versions are the best known treatments for ED. The pill allows blood flow to the penis, and increases the sustainability of an erection. It does not replace sexual stimulation, but works alongside it to increase the effects of it, which without Viagra would result in a flaccid penis.
There are various other solutions too. Firstly, psychotherapy is possible to cure psychological factors contributing to Erectile Dysfunction if there is any. However this may be a laborious and expensive process. Secondly, a penis pump. This however is unadvised as it only masks the problem. Thirdly, herbal supplements are available which help to target physiological and psychological reasons.
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