What is it?
Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. One episode does not mean you have erectile dysfunction, but if it is ongoing you need to get it checked out.
It is important to go see your doctor about it. It may be a sign of a health condition that needs treatment, such as heart disease [1] or poorly controlled diabetes. [2] Treating an underlying problem may be enough to reverse your erectile dysfunction.
How do I recognise it?
- Trouble getting an erection
- Trouble keeping an erection
- Reduced sexual desire
Causes
Usually, erectile dysfunction is caused by something physical. Common causes include:
- Heart disease [1]
- Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis [3])
- High blood pressure [4]
- Diabetes [2]
- Obesity [5]
- Metabolic syndrome [6], a condition involving increased blood pressure [4], high insulin [7] levels, body fat around the waist and high cholesterol [8]
- Parkinson's disease [9]
- Multiple sclerosis [10]
- Low testosterone
- Peyronie's disease, development of scar tissue inside the penis
- Certain prescription medications
- Tobacco use [11]
- Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse
- Treatments for prostate cancer [12] or enlarged prostate [12]
- Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord
Many psychological factors can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. These include:
- Depression [13], anxiety or other mental health conditions
- Stress [14]
- Fatigue [15]
- Relationship problems due to stress, poor communication or other concerns.
How do you treat it?
Like any disease, even if there is no cure, there is almost always something you can do to manage it and take control. There are three main areas involved in the treatment of any disease:
- Conventional medicines [16]
- Complementary medicines
- Complementary therapies [17]
For information on medicines [16] and therapies [17] relevant to Erectile dysfunction, make an appointment at Lynch's Pharmacy, Broadale, Douglas, Cork on 021-4366923.
Learn all about the drugs [18] used to treat the disease and any complementary medicines or therapies [17] proven to help. Equip yourself with the tools to manage the condition and not be managed by it.
How do you live with it?
Certain adjustments may be needed to get on with your life, and often, some simple tips and advice can go a long way to making these changes.
When you come to a Lynch's Pharmacy Clinic, we give you all the necessary information available to make your life more manageable and allow you to better live with your condition.
References
Erectile dysfunction-http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erectile_dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction, a comprehensive overview http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/DS00162