A Guide On Erectile Dysfunction Treatments
Erectile dysfunction can lead to low self-esteem, stress, and strained relationships. If you have problems getting or keeping an erection, it could be a symptom of the underlying medical condition. The good news is that treatment procedures can reverse the embarrassing situation. This article highlights the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment options for erectile dysfunction.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition where an individual fails to get or keep a firm erection during sexual intercourse. The inability to have an erection occasionally should not be a cause of alarm. However, if the condition becomes an ongoing issue, you may have erectile dysfunction.
The symptoms of erectile dysfunction include:
- Difficulty having an erection
- Difficulty sustaining an erection
- Reduced sexual desire
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Primarily, erectile dysfunction may result from underlying medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes, obesity, sleep disorders, high blood pressure, and neurological diseases. Also, it may be a side effect for specific medications, surgeries, and treatment for prostate cancer. Then, smoking, alcoholism, and substance use increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. In addition, the condition may stem from psychological causes like anxiety, stress, and depression.
Diagnosis and Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction
A typical erectile dysfunction diagnosis begins with the doctor asking questions to establish your medical history. The diagnosis assessments include physical examination, blood tests, urine tests, ultrasound, and psychological evaluation.
The doctor may recommend either of these treatment options:
Medication
The most common type of medication for erectile dysfunction is oral drugs. These drugs relax the penis muscles by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide that naturally occur in your body. Subsequently, one experiences increased blood flow, allowing one to get an erection after sexual stimulation. Notably, erectile dysfunction treatment drugs have side effects and possible complications and require doctors' prescription.
There are several other medication options other than oral drugs. For instance, the patient may opt for alprostadil self-injection into the base or side of the penis. The injection triggers an erection lasting more than an hour. Alternatively, one may choose the alprostadil urethral suppository method to get an erection. Specifically, one uses an applicator to insert a tiny alprostadil suppository in the penile urethra.
Penis Pumps and Penile Implants
A penis pump is a device with a hollow tube placed over the penis to create a vacuum that sucks blood into your penis. The vacuum erection device has a hand-powered or battery-powered pump. Upon getting an erection, one slips a tension ring at the base of the penis to hold the blood and then removes the penis pump. You then remove the ring after the sexual intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction treatment using penile implants is a surgical process to place malleable rods into both sides of the penis. The inserted rods are inflatable, which allows you to control when and how long an erection occurs. However, this method is ideal after other techniques fail.
Other erectile dysfunction treatment methods include:
- Testosterone therapy
- Regular exercises
- Psychological counseling
- Alternative medicine such as supplements
- Clinical trials such as extracorporeal shock wave therapy or intracavernosal injection of stem cells
Instead of worrying about getting and sustaining erections, seek medical intervention. Your healthcare provider will use one or a combination of erectile dysfunction treatment approaches to enhance your sexual life.
For more information, contact a local company, like Balanced Medical Solutions.
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