Although for some men erectile dysfunction may not be the best or most important measure of sexual satisfaction, for many men the condition creates mental stress that affects their interactions with family and friends.Despite its frequency and the number of common medical conditions that can be associated with it, there’s still a widespread belief that male sexual dysfunction is shameful and mysterious, and an untreatable condition. To the contrary, there are treatments that may help relieve the condition. Traditional treatments your doctor may prescribe are:
Hormone Therapy
If your doctor determines that impotence is caused by low hormone levels, the condition may be improved by taking replacement hormones. Both injectable testosterone and testosterone patches, called transdermal therapy, may be used.
Changing Other Medications
Some prescription medications used for unrelated conditions such as high blood pressure may cause impotence. Changing the drug or dosage levels may help.
Vacuum Device
A cylinder is placed around the penis and air is pumped out, resulting in increased blood flow to the penis and thus, an erection. A rubber ring at the base of the penis restricts outflow of blood so an erection can be maintained. This treatment can be used to facilitate intercourse but is not a permanent fix.
Self-Injection
This type of therapy uses a hypodermic needle to inject medication into the base of the penis. The drug relaxes the smooth muscle tissue of the penis, allowing blood to flow into the organ, creating an erection. You should not use injection therapy if you have myeloma, leukemia, deformity of the penis or a penile implant. This treatment can be used to facilitate intercourse but is not a permanent fix.
Surgery
In men with arterial or venous disease in the penis, surgery to correct defects has been successful 60 percent to 65 percent of the time.
Implants
Surgically implanted in the penis, these devices are designed to provide long-term solutions. A firm but bendable rod or inflatable implant is surgically implanted to make the penis rigid enough for intercourse.
Viagra and Other Medications
Orally administered prescription medications are used to control blood flow to and from the penis. Viagra is the most recent development in oral medications. Yohimbine is a nonhormonal drug, in pill form, designed to decrease the outflow of blood from the penile tissue. Other oral, hormonal treatments are designed to replenish the body with testosterone it lacks; helping to restore libido and potency.
Prevention
Although male sexual dysfunction can increase progressively with age, it is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Specifically, erectile dysfunction is clearly a symptom of many conditions, and certain risk factors have been identified, some of which may be amendable to prevention strategies. Some of these risk factors include:
- Diabetes mellitus
- Endocrinologic conditions
- blood pressure
- vascular disease
- High levels of blood cholesterol
- Low levels of high density lipoprotein
- Drugs
- Neurogenic disorders
- Peyronie’s disease
- Priapism
- Depression
- Alcohol ingestion
- Lack of sexual knowledge
- Poor sexual techniques
- Inadequate interpersonal relationships or their deterioration
- Many chronic diseases, especially renal failure and dialysis
In addition, psychological factors must be evaluated, such as marital stability and communication, depression, other mood disorders or emotional problems and a history of sexual abuse.If you think you may be suffering from male sexual dysfunction, see your physician. You don’t have to be unhappy or self-conscious. It’s important to talk with your partner about your condition and together seek treatment.
