What are the risk factors for erectile dysfunction?
by Admin
Posted on 13-03-2023 09:44 PM
With erectile dysfunction (ed), it is hard to get or keep an erection that is firm enough for sex. When ed becomes a routine and bothersome problem, your primary care provider or a urologist can help. Ed may be a major warning sign of cardiovascular disease indicating blockages are building in a man's vascular system. Some studies have shown
men
with ed are at significant risk of getting a heart attack, stroke or circulatory problems in the legs. Ed also causes:
low self-esteem
depression
distress for the man and his partner
if ed is affecting a man's well-being or his relationships, it should be treated.
June 08, 2022 if you’ve ever had trouble getting or keeping an erection, you’re not alone. However, there’s a difference between occasionally being unable to get an erection and erectile dysfunction (ed). It’s normal for men to experience an inability to get an erection occasionally, but if you are unable to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex more than half the time, then it may be time to talk to your doctor about erectile dysfunction. According to the urology care foundation , it is possible for men to have healthy sexual function into their 80s. However, ed is a complicated problem and many things can influence the condition.
Erectile dysfunction (ed) is the inability to develop and maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Risk factors for ed include diabetes mellitus, increasing age, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and use of antihypertensive and psychotropic medications. Proper evaluation includes a careful history, physical examination, and evaluation for possible endocrine causes (eg, low testosterone, high prolactin levels). Because erectile dysfunction is caused by a complex set of psychosocial, neurologic, and vascular factors, a specific cause in a patient may remain ambiguous. Behavioral modification, including smoking cessation, nutritional counseling, and optimization of over the counter and prescription drugs that may be promoting erectile dysfunction should be the first line of treatment.
Doctors used to think that erectile dysfunction was mainly caused by psychological factors, such as anxiety or depression. In fact, most cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by physical illness. Psychological problems cause only one in ten cases of persistent erectile dysfunction. Physical erectile dysfunction happens over a period of months or years, and is often a gradual loss of function. If erections still occur spontaneously overnight or in the morning, the problem may be psychological. Erectile dysfunction can be due to: physical illness – erectile dysfunction is often associated with conditions that affect blood flow in the penis , such as: diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, cigarette smoking, obesity, heart disease and multiple sclerosis.
The evaluations for erectile dysfunction include those specific to sexual function: the precise nature of the dysfunction (i. E. , whether the problem is attaining or sustaining an erection, insufficient rigidity, penetration, or ejaculation); whether ed occurs with all sexual partners or only specific partners; psychosocial factors; the presence or absence of nocturnal and morning erections; and any treatments (pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic) that the patient has tried. The sexual health inventory for men (shim) assesses the degree to which ed impacts the quality of the patient’s life. If there are no other known medical conditions, a full physical examination is necessary.
What are the different types (and causes) of ED?
The panel reviewed the evidence on all therapies for ed. Treatments judged to be effective and that appear to be generally safe (e. G. , pde5i, ved, ici) are reviewed above, and guidance is provided in the form of statements. Selected treatments that are available but that in the panel's judgement are ineffective and involve substantial risks/burdens (e. G. , venous ligation
surgery
, prp, eswt) and, based on current evidence, should not be offered also are addressed.
Many additional oral treatments for ed have been evaluated in the peer-reviewed literature but, in the panel's view, these treatments either are ineffective, are not safe, or lack a sufficient body of evidence from which to make generalizations.
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by: diabetes (high blood sugar) radiation therapy to the testicles some types of prostate or bladder surgery problems in your relationship with your sexual partner can also cause erectile dysfunction. Improving your relationship may help your sex life. If you decide to seek therapy, it will probably be most effective if your sex partner is included. Couples can learn new ways to please one another and to show affection. This can reduce anxiety about having erections. Certain feelings can lead to erectile dysfunction, including: feeling nervous about sex. This could be because of a bad experience or a previous episode of ed.
What is ed? what causes ed? can it be prevented? can you help me with ed, or do i need to see a specialist? if i need a specialist (urologist), do you have a referral for me? what tests do you suggest to find the cause of my ed, and why? can you check my heart and blood health? are there any lifestyle changes that could help my symptoms? what types of treatments are available? what treatment do you suggest for me and why? what are the pros and cons of each type of treatment you suggest? what are the side effects? what happens if the first treatment doesn't help?.
Several treatment options are available to help ed. Sometimes, resolving underlying medical conditions will also improve your ed symptoms. Medication options there are several types of ed medications , including: oral drugs popular medicines like sildenafil (viagra) , tadalafil (cialis) , vardenafil (levitra) , and avanafil (stendra) work by boosting the effects of nitric oxide — a chemical that relaxes muscles in the penis. Note that drugs in this class (pde-5 inhibitors) are not appropriate for patients who take nitrates in any other form, because the combination can lead to severe hypotension (low blood pressure). Injections some medicines can be injected or placed inside the penis to help create an erection.
Many common medications for treating hypertension, depression, and high blood lipids (high cholesterol) can contribute to erectile dysfunction (see above). Treatment of hypertension is an example. There are many different types (classes) of medications for high blood pressure ; these include beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers , diuretics (medications that increase urine volume), angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors ( ace inhibitors ), and angiotensin receptor blockers ( arbs ). Patients may use these medications alone or in combination to control blood pressure. Some of these medications can cause troubles with erections. For example, inderal (a beta-blocker ) and hydrochlorothiazide (a diuretic) cause erectile dysfunction, while calcium channel blockers and ace inhibitors do not seem to affect erectile function.
How is ED diagnosed?
Low serum testosterone levels are one factor that may explain the relationship between metabolic syndrome and ed. 23 the adipose tissue enzyme aromatase prevalent in obese men converts testosterone into estradiol, a significant cause of hypogonadism. 24 – 26 adipocytes also generate inflammatory cytokines associated with impaired endothelial function, cardiovascular events, and ed. 27 – 29 patients with diabetes are three times more likely to develop ed, and a longer duration of diabetes is strongly associated with ed. 18 , 30 , 31 metabolic syndrome is associated with a 2. 6-fold increase in the incidence of ed, and the fasting blood glucose level is the component associated with the highest risk of ed.
Erectile dysfunction is diagnosed based on your satisfaction with your ability to get and maintain an erection. Your doctor will work out the cause of your erectile dysfunction, so they can find a treatment that suits you.
What is the treatment for ED?
Early-stage prostate cancer does not cause ed, but advanced forms of prostate cancer can. Prostate surgery to remove tumors and radiation therapy to treat prostate cancer can cause ed. Some medications for prostate cancer may also result in ed. For example, hormone therapies can lower a person’s libido, and by association lead to ed. Research has shown that the medication finasteride may cause sexual dysfunction in men. The good news is that there are many treatments for ed, and most people will find a solution that works for them.
The mission of the erectile dysfunction service at the massachusetts general hospital department of urology is to deliver care to men experiencing erectile dysfunction (ed) so they can resume sexual intimacy with their partners. We provide private, personalized evaluations and effective, clinically proven treatments for this condition. Many men experience ed as a consequence of aging or some specific underlying medical condition. Once thought to be purely psychological or emotional, ed more often is symptomatic of an underlying physical disease. Additionally, the condition can be caused by many common medications, including those prescribed for high blood pressure. Common causes of ed include:.