Diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction

This is an automatically translated article.

This article is expertly consulted by MSc Vo Thien Ngon - Urologist, Department of General Surgery, Vinmec International Hospital Da Nang.
Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which, during intercourse, the penis is not strong enough to be inserted into the woman's body. If it's only occasional it's not a cause for concern, however, if erectile dysfunction persists it can be stressful, affect your confidence and affect your relationship. .

1. Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

Male sexual arousal is a complex process involving the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can be the result of one or more of these problems. Likewise, stress and mental health can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.
Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological problems causes erectile dysfunction. For example, a minor injury that affects your sex drive can cause anxiety and make it difficult to maintain an erection. This anxiety can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.

1.1. Physical causes of erectile dysfunction

In many cases, erectile dysfunction is caused by other conditions such as:
Heart disease Atherosclerosis High cholesterol High blood pressure Diabetes Obesity Metabolic syndrome - a condition associated with high blood pressure , high insulin levels, body fat around the waist and high cholesterol Parkinson's disease Multiple sclerosis Some prescription drugs Tobacco use Curved penis disease (English name is Peyronie's disease) Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse other addictions Sleep disorders Prostate cancer treatment Surgery or trauma affecting the pelvic area or spinal cord 1.2. Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction

The brain plays a key role in triggering a series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with a feeling of sexual arousal. Several things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. These include:
Depression, anxiety or other mental health problems Stress Relationship problems caused by stress, poor communication or other concerns

2. Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction

In addition to a physical exam and answering questions regarding your medical history and current symptoms, if you have a chronic medical condition or your doctor suspects that your erectile dysfunction is related to another medical condition is latent that has not been detected, the doctor will order some tests or consult with a specialist.
Tests may include:
Physical exam, which includes a thorough examination of the size of your penis and testicles and checking your nerve sensations. Blood tests. Your blood sample may be sent to a lab to check for signs of heart disease, diabetes, low testosterone levels, and other conditions. Urine test. Like blood tests, urine tests are used to look for signs of diabetes and other underlying diseases. An ultrasound scans the blood vessels that supply the penis. This test is sometimes done in conjunction with an injection of medication into the penis to stimulate blood flow and produce an erection. Psychological testing. Your doctor may ask questions to screen for depression and other possible psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.

3. Erectile dysfunction and its treatment

Patients should check with their doctor before undertaking any treatment, as erectile dysfunction can be accompanied by other underlying health problems such as nerve damage related to diabetes, heart disease or other neurological problem.
While the cause of erectile dysfunction can be physical, it can still be psychological, thus affecting the outcome of treatment. The patient needs a treatment plan that includes both physical and psychological treatment. A variety of treatments can reverse erectile dysfunction such as:
3.1. Lifestyle Changes Lifestyle modifications can improve many causes of erectile dysfunction, such as diabetes and clogged arteries. Men with underlying health problems should discuss their diet and lifestyle with their doctor prior to surgery.
Lifestyle changes include:
Using relaxation exercises to manage stress related to erectile dysfunction and control blood pressure Exercise to improve blood flow Losing weight to help lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol and testosterone levels Dietary changes, especially beneficial for people with diabetes or cardiovascular disease

3.2. Pelvic floor exercises The pelvic floor muscles help men urinate and ejaculate. Strengthening these muscles can also improve erectile function. A comprehensive 2010 review found that pelvic floor exercises can help men with diabetes achieve and maintain erections.
3.3. Psychological counseling Erectile dysfunction can have a negative impact on a man's self-esteem, so it makes it very difficult for men to share this problem with others, this is a common condition today in patients with erectile dysfunction. erectile dysfunction. It is important to acknowledge and discuss erectile dysfunction, especially when it can cause depression or anxiety.
Counseling the patient can assist in finding the cause of the problem. A psychologist or psychiatrist can help people manage their anxiety and deal with the problems that can eliminate erectile dysfunction and prevent it from coming back.
3.4. Herbal and alternative remedies Some men find that alternative and complementary therapies, such as acupuncture, can also be effective for erectile dysfunction. Preliminary research suggests that certain herbal supplements may also be helpful, as a 2018 review found that ginseng preparations significantly improved symptoms of erectile dysfunction in study subjects. Preparations of marine pine extracts, Pinus pinaster, maca and Lepidium meyenii, also show promising results, but more research is still needed.
Herbal or alternative remedies are safest when used under the direction of a doctor and in combination with other treatments.

3.5. Medications A wide range of medications are indicated for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The best known are drugs, such as tadalafil (Cialis) and Viagra, which increase blood flow to the penis and help achieve an erection.
These remedies are effective when the cause of erectile dysfunction is physical, and they are also effective when the cause is unknown or related to the patient's excessive anxiety.
3.6. Medication changes Some medications can make erectile dysfunction worse. For example, blood pressure medications can reduce blood flow to the penis, making it difficult for a person to get an erection. Anyone who suspects that erectile dysfunction is related to the medication they are taking should seek advice from their doctor to use alternative medicine that can both treat the disease and limit the possibility of erectile dysfunction. positive.
3.7. Surgery If the above measures do not work or when there is a reason that requires surgery to treat erectile dysfunction, your doctor may recommend surgery by implanting a device that allows an immediate erection. Surgery is effective in most cases and the complication rate is less than 5%.
Some patients feel sad and disappointed when they find out they have erectile dysfunction. It's important to remember that this condition is treatable. Erectile dysfunction is very common and can often be reversed using natural remedies or medications to treat the underlying cause.
Early intervention can often uncover a serious underlying medical condition underlying the symptoms of erectile dysfunction, and identifying the cause of erectile dysfunction early can increase the likelihood of a reversal.

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Reference source: Mayoclinic.org