4urology

Erectile dysfunction (ED, "male impotence ") is a sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance.

If ED is due to an underlying health condition, such as heart disease, or diabetes, that condition may need to be treated first before treatment for ED can begin. However, in some cases, treating the underlying cause will also resolve the problem of ED. If you have erectile dyfunction it is important to see your GP to rule out an underlying problem causing the ED.

Treatment depends on the cause. Testosterone supplements may be used for cases due to low testosterone levels. However, the cause is more usually lack of adequate penile blood supply as a result of damage to blood vessels. This damage is more frequent in older men, and often associated with other common diseases in particular cardiovascular disease and diabetes. In younger men the commonest cause is psychological and if persistent they may benefit from pyschosexual counselling.

Most physicians suggest that treatments proceed from least to most invasive. For some men, making a few healthy lifestyle changes may solve the problem. Only considering medication when these measures fail.

When oral drugs fail, injections into the erectile tissue of the penile shaft are extremely effective but occasionally cause priapism (painful prolonged erections).

When pharmacological methods fail, a purpose-designed external vacuum pump can be used to attain erection, with a separate compression ring fitted to the penis to maintain it. As a last line of treatment, inflatable or rigid penile implants may be fitted surgically. Implants are irreversible and costly. These mechanical methods are based on simple principles of hydraulics and mechanics and are quite reliable, but have their disadvantages.