Except for a few isolated cases, sexual practices often occupy an important place within a couple’s relationship.
This importance has increased over time through social movements such as the emancipation of women (in the early 30s) or the gradual decline in taboos related to this intimate practice, which has encouraged the expression of desire and have helped change the perception of the collective imagination towards issues of sexuality.
Now it has become logical and even recommended to consult doctors on matters of Erectile Dysfunction. What was once a shameful taboo is now a disease known to all, and many drugs exist to treat it effectively.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
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Sexual impotence is the persistent and / or continual failure to maintain an erection with the aim of having satisfactory sexual intercourse for both partners.
It is necessary here to differentiate sexual impotence from occasional “interruptions”, which may be due to:
- Stress
- Tiredness (or insomnia)
- Alcohol
- Tobacco
- Obesity
This is why erectile dysfunction is established after a considerable period of time (more than 6 months in general) during which repeated and ongoing failures are recorded.
Do not let impotence harm your relationship!
These chronic sexual breakdowns (thus diagnosed as impotence, or more commonly known as erectile dysfunction) are becoming more and more frequent. Indeed, these days, about 30% of men over forty suffer from erection problems, and it turns out that these figures have been growing steadily for several years. This is especially because our attitudes have changed, and men tend to admit their impotence more easily, in order to get rid of it through effective treatment.
Moreover, it is always helpful to talk to your doctor, as we will see that erectile dysfunction can actually hide more serious health problems such as risks of heart attacks or diabetes.
Types of erectile dysfunction
The terms “erectile dysfunction” and “impotence” are easily confused.
This confusion may well lead to errors of self-diagnosis made by men. Therefore, it is important to understand the terms and differentiate them from each other.
Erectile dysfunction is a general term for a variety of sexual disorders. Impotence describes the complete inability to establish or maintain an erection, and this is only part of the dysfunction.
Impotence is a man’s constant inability to gain or maintain an erection with the objective of leading a satisfying sex life. This disease is preventable and is most common in men over 40, but it can affect men of all ages.
Factors such as an unhealthy lifestyle, taking certain medications, excessive stress, increased and regular consumption of alcohol and suffering from various diseases such as diabetes or hypertension, can lead to the impotence. With changing lifestyles, young men are more affected by this disease.
A healthy erection is based on several actions
During sexual stimulation, nitrogen monoxide (NO) is released into the corpus cavernosum in the penis
When the enzyme guanylate cyclase is stimulated by nitric oxide, concentrations of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) consequently increase and result in the relaxation of the smooth muscle of the corpora cavernosa, and therefore blood flow to the penis.
The proportion of cyclic guanosine monophosphate is regulated by the rate of synthesis by guanylate cyclase but also by the percentage of degradation by PDE-5.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There are two causes of sexual impotence. On the one hand, there are psychological causes, and on the other, there are physical causes.
Physical Causes:
Indeed, erectile dysfunction is associated with several diseases. This include:
Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
| Atherosclerosis (cardiovascular disease) | High blood pressure |
| Diabetes | Trauma to the pelvis |
| Penile deformity | Presence of tumours |
| Parkinson disease | Alzheimer’s disease |
| Multiple sclerosis | Large and frequent hormonal disorders |
So in relation to these diseases and to the symptoms they provide, physiological abnormalities may emerge, before leading to a sexual weakness which, if not treated in time, can turn into incurable impotence.
The main physical symptoms that can lead to impotence are:
- Narrowing of the arteries due to fat accumulation,
- Sclerosis of small penile arteries,
- The reduction or stopping of nerve signals driving the influx to the penis.
Psychological causes:
Psychological causes can be considered when it is found that the patient has nocturnal erections. This demonstrates a good state of neurological and vascular reflexes and therefore, the physical capacity of the individual to gain an erection when his thoughts fall into the unconscious.
Furthermore, the beginning of impotence (or involuntary sexual weakness) without any trauma or any particular drug-taking beforehand, points to psychological causes of erectile dysfunction. These cases relate more to the split between the psychic and the sexual organ. It is a lack of nerve stimulus in the brain. This failure may be due to an unconscious emotional (stress, sexual identity put into question), religious or even cultural inhibition.
Solutions of Erectile Dysfunction
Above all, remember that if you suffer from impotence, except in some rare cases, it is possible to completely treat the disease until it disappears. This is the result of many advances in this sector, which in recent years has developed numerous treatments that are more and more effective.
One of the first solutions tested by sex therapists is to re-stimulate desire and sexual urges to ensure that impotence or sexual weakness does not come from a psychological cause.
Then there is the prescription to take medication, which remains the most common solution to date. In this regard, there are several drugs (all for adult men) and allow the user to obtain a sufficiently durable erection for satisfactory sex for both partners. These are Sildenafil (Viagra), Vardenafil, Tadalafil, and more recently Spedra.
All these treatments are based on the action of type 5 phosphodiesterase inhibitors, from where their similarities when comparing the instructions of use.
Viagra
The first pill developed to treat impotence
- Works in 30 minutes
- Duration: up to 4 hours
- Active substance: Sildenafil
- Manufacturer: Pfizer Laboratories
- Side effects: a headache, flushing, dizziness, dyspepsia, nasal congestion, impaired colour vision
Cialis
One of the most popular pills against erectile dysfunction due to its long duration of action
- Works in 30 minutes
- Duration: up to 36 hours
- Active Ingredient: Tadalafil
- Manufacturer: Eli Lilly Laboratories
- Side effects: a headache, dyspepsia, dizziness, flushing, nasal congestion, backache
Cialis (5mg Daily)
One effective treatment for regular use
- Permanently effective, 3 to 5 days after the first dose
- Duration: Permanent Effect
- Active Ingredient: Tadalafil
- Manufacturer: Eli Lilly Laboratories
- Side effects: a headache, dyspepsia, dizziness, flushing, nasal congestion, backache
Levitra
The most suitable treatment for more mature men. Also commonly used in men with other conditions such as diabetes, high cholesterol and hypertension.
- Works after 20 minutes
- Duration: up to 5 hours
- Active ingredient: Vardenafil
- Manufacturer: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Laboratories
- Side effects: a headache, flushing, dyspepsia, nausea, dizziness, rhinitis
Levitra Orodispersible
Offers an alternative for men with impotence who have difficulty swallowing tablets.
- Works within 20 minutes
- Duration: up to 5 hours
- Active ingredient: Vardenafil
- Manufacturer: Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals Lab
- Side effects: a headache, flushing, dyspepsia, nausea, dizziness, rhinitis
Spedra
The most recent sexual stimulant on the market. Spedra went on sale in April 2014 in UK and in Europe.
- Works within 15 minutes after taking it
- Duration: up to 6 hours
- Active ingredient: Avanafil
- Manufacturer: Berlin-Chemie AG Laboratory
- Side effects include a headache, flushing, nasal congestion, dizziness, back pain
Although medical treatments on prescription are the most effective solution to treat erectile dysfunction, there are also other ways.
7 Active measures to prevent impotence:
- Pay attention to your blood pressure: you should take your blood pressure at least once a year.
- If you have diabetes, regularly monitor your blood sugar level.
- Regularly control your cholesterol.
- Practice an adequate physical exercise (at least 30 minutes per day). Men who regularly play sports are less likely to develop erectile dysfunction than others.
- Avoid excessive consumption of alcohol: Excessive consumption of alcohol contributes to erectile dysfunction; it is the same for drug use
- Stop smoking: Tobacco use when it begins during adolescence develops the risk of erectile dysfunction appearing. Tobacco and its related components result in clogging the arteries and thus blocking blood flow to the penis. Men stopping smoking can completely regain normal erectile and satisfactory after 6 months.
- Eat healthily: Junk food is bad for your health but also for the quality of your erection.
The prevention of impotence can only contribute to a healthy sex life. However, prevention of impotence through a healthy lifestyle alone does not always guarantee the avoidance of erectile dysfunction. Prescription treatments are sometimes unavoidable.
Talking with your partner can help you!
It is extremely important to talk openly and honestly about sex and erectile dysfunction with your partner. However, many people have difficulty or have inhibitions when communicating about this subject.
Talking with your partner can sometimes help you to be reassured, to regain confidence and finally reduce the problems.
Sources
- Erectile dysfunction (impotence): NHS
- What Can Cause Erectile Dysfunction: Webmd
- Types of Sexual Dysfunction: News Medical
- Epidemiology and pathophysiology of male sexual dysfunction: CESI
Other information
Medical review on January 7, 2021 by Dr. Davis Taylor
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