Erectile dysfunction – symptoms, causes and therapies
Erectile dysfunction, generally also called erectile dysfunction, is the inability to achieve sufficient stiffness of the limb for satisfactory sexual intercourse. The affected person either does not build an erection or builds an inadequate erection. If fear of failure is added to erectile dysfunction, the desire for sex also disappears in many men. Erectile dysfunction can occur occasionally, but it can also be permanent, whatever viagra can help to prevent this problem. Doctors assume erectile dysfunction if the patient is unable to build or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse in more than two thirds of the cases and for a period of more than six months .
The topics at a glance:
- The causes of erectile dysfunction
- Symptoms and Diagnosis
- Medication and aids
- 5 myths about impotence
The causes of erectile dysfunction:
The causes of erectile dysfunction can vary widely. They can be psychological in nature, but also more organic. A mixture of psychological and organic causes is also possible, for example if there is a slight organic erectile dysfunction that is exacerbated by psychological factors.
Symptoms and Diagnosis:
Erectile dysfunction is when the man cannot get an erection or when he gets an erection but cannot keep it. The disturbances occur for at least six months and in over 70 percent of the cases. Erectile dysfunction can appear suddenly, but it can also “creep in”. Erectile dysfunction often occurs during both sexual intercourse and masturbation. The absence of erections during sleep, which normally occur three to six times a night in the REM phase2, can also indicate physical causes of erectile dysfunction.
For most people, erectile failure is closely linked to feelings such as fear, shame, anger, disappointment and despair. The effects on the soul are enormously stressful and can lead to men withdrawing from the partnership, getting depression and having difficulties even at work viagra can be solutions for this erection.
Medication and aids:
Which therapy comes into question depends largely on the identified causes. For example, if it is medication that caused the erectile dysfunction, the doctor can change the medication or taking viagra consider alternative forms of therapy together with the patient
Treatment with phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors
Phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors (PDE 5 inhibitors) are used to treat erectile dysfunction. In 1998, Sildenafil was the first drug with this active ingredient on the market. Two other supplements that were added later are levitra (vardenafil) and cialis (tadalafil).
In order for the penis to build an erection, the messenger substance cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) must be released in response to a sexual stimulus. This ensures that the veins widen and blood can flow into the erectile tissue. This hardens the penis and makes it erect. The enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE-5) is released in the body so that the erection can be broken down again. This is exactly where PDE-5 inhibitors come in. They inhibit the enzyme PDE-5, so that the concentration of cGMP increases and the penis can become more permanently erect and harder. PDE-5 inhibitors help with erectile dysfunction in many cases, but not all men can take them. For example, severe cardiovascular diseases are considered a contraindication.
5 myths about impotence:
1. Men can and always want to.
Men can by no means always have their own erection. This myth is supported by the media and the film industry and the image of the always able, potent man is firmly anchored in people’s minds. On the other hand, more than half of men have already experienced erectile dysfunction and they are completely normal, for example if the excitement is particularly great the “first time” or everyday life is characterized by a lot of stress. This myth is so strong that many men expect to always be functional regardless of external factors – a misconception that can put a considerable strain on the psyche.
2. Sex is spontaneous.
For many men (and women) the assumption is firmly anchored that men can do a “cold start” without difficulty. However, as the paragraph on PDE-5 inhibitors shows, a man’s erection is a complicated physiological process that cannot be forced. The stimulation, the caressing and the caresses are also part of the male sexuality and contribute to the fact that the head and the body can tune in. 3
3. Impotence is a natural consequence of aging.
Erectile dysfunction can occur at any age. There is a clear connection with age and the increase in frequency, but that is no reason to simply accept erectile dysfunction. On the contrary – since they can indicate underlying diseases, a doctor should definitely be consulted in the event of prolonged erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can also be treated in old age and must by no means be taken for granted.
4. In young men, impotence is a mental issue.
Although the organic causes increase with age, they do not rule out erectile dysfunction in young men. Genital malformations or surgery in the pelvic area can cause erectile dysfunction. A referral for counseling is therefore not a sufficient measure, even for young men, but a thorough investigation and the exclusion of organic causes should always be carried out.
5. If you don’t have an erection, you don’t feel like having sex.
This is a myth that leads to many misunderstandings in relationships with erectile dysfunction. Men with erectile dysfunction are quite aroused and feel lust. The only thing is that the body doesn’t “work” the way the head wants it to. The libido is not necessarily directly related to erectile dysfunction. If fear of failure is added, however, this can also influence the libido. It is therefore important to talk to your partner about erectile dysfunction from the beginning and to clarify that it is not a question of pleasure.