Regular intercourse is claimed to boost physiological and psychological effects on men such as enhancing happiness, self-esteem, and intimacy. However, there are unlucky few who cannot get or maintain an erection while having an intimate session with loved ones — resulting in unsatisfactory intercourse. This condition is known as erectile dysfunction which men usually refuse to talk about and end up shuddering by the bed.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
During sexual arousal, nerve impulses will increase blood flow to men’s penis to cause an erection by expanding, stiffening, and straightening. But failure in this process may cause someone to have Erectile Dysfunction (ED), the inability to attain or maintain penile erection for sufficient satisfactory sexual performance.
ED is more common than many people are aware of. It is said to affect one out of five Malaysian men and is listed as one of the most common sexual health problems in Malaysia. Naturally, ED is considered to be affecting men of advancing age. Some studies revealed ED is affecting 69.5% of Malaysian men above 40 years of age.
While ED is commonly viewed as a condition affecting older men, it is nowadays becoming increasingly prevalent in younger men too. It is estimated about 30% of men below 40 years are finding it hard to achieve hardness in the bedroom. A multi-centre worldwide study — involving more than 27,000 men from eight countries demonstrated — an ED prevalence of 8% among 20 to 29 years men and 11% among 30–39 years men.
Regardless of age, this is an issue men find very difficult to discuss.
Erectile Dysfunction Causes
In the fast-paced urban lifestyle, it is not uncommon for young men who struggle with the demands of work and family pressure to encounter occasional issues in the bedroom. And when those issues turn out to be the regular norms, examining the causes and implications of this deficiency becomes crucial.
ED can be caused by quite a number of reasons. In terms of physical factors, vascular diseases like atherosclerosis where blood flow to the penis becomes restricted or narrowed may cause an ED. Neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis could also contribute to ED because the nerves that send impulses to the penis might be damaged if you had a history of stroke, spinal cord injuries, or diabetes.
Other conditions might be due to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease, thyroid disorder, damage to arteries from pelvic surgery (such as prostate, colon, or bladder surgery), tobacco use, alcoholism, substance abuse, certain prescription medications, and low testosterone.
While psychological factors include performance anxiety, stress, hypertension, depression, sleep disorder, and a lack of brain stimulation.
Although many view ED as just a sexual health issue, it is clearly associated with other co-morbid conditions as mentioned. Yes, you may suffer from ED even if you have a wonderful relationship with your partner and find them appealing.
Effects of Erectile Dysfunction
Any issues regarding your sexual performance will directly affect your personal life. Complications resulting from ED can include reduced sex drive, feelings of embarrassment or guilt, low self-esteem, relationship distress, inability to get your partner pregnant, dwindling confidence, communication problems, cheating, and even breakups.
On top of that, not having a healthy sex life can result in poor quality of sleep. This will increase your stress and anxiety due to your lack of sleep and not having satisfactory intercourse will just prolong this situation.
Despite the fact that sexual dysfunction rarely threatens physical health, men with ED are still advised to take the required steps to address the issue before it affects their relationships even further.
Diagnosis For Erectile Dysfunction
Men have never liked talking about their problems in bed as it is embarrassing and it upsets them as well as their partners. But their aversion to addressing the issue will inevitably cause multiple effects on their lives physically and psychologically. Ergo, seeing a doctor is a step in the right direction to treating the problem.
A doctor can diagnose ED and suggest a course of treatment based solely on a patient’s physical examination and responses to inquiries about their medical history. You might need additional testing or consult a specialist if you have ongoing health issues or your doctor feels an underlying illness may be involved.
There are a few tests that doctors can perform for you to diagnose the condition, determine its cause, and ensure your ED condition can be treated effectively.
Performing physical examination
Your doctor will assess your medical history and conduct a thorough physical examination before recommending any testing. You will also be asked about your personal and sexual history. The questions asked usually will be very personal and psychological, merely to get accurate medical data. Hence, it is crucial that you provide honest responses to justify your erectile dysfunction treatment price.
Some of the questions consist of medications or supplements you are currently taking, any psychological problems you are facing, your experience with erections, and several other questions that contribute to ED. The doctor might also want to speak with your sexual partner because they might be able to offer different insights about the underlying problems.
During the physical examination, your doctor will also carefully examine your penis and testicles as well as test the sensation in your nerves.
Blood test
A sample of your blood will be sent to a lab to find any indications of diabetes, low testosterone levels, heart disease, and other illnesses. As such, getting a series of complete blood counts (CBC) can identify the presence of anaemia. Anaemia will cause fatigue in a person due to a low red blood cell count — which will lead to ED.
Urine test (urinalysis)
Analysis of urine is performed to look for indicators of diabetes and other underlying medical issues. It can provide details such as the level of protein, sugar, and testosterone in your body. Any unusual findings of these substances will indicate diabetes, kidney illness, or lack of testosterone, all of which can cause ED.
Ultrasound
This exam is possibly the best one in determining ED. A specialist will carry out this test by using a transducer, which is held over the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. The high-frequency sound waves from the ultrasound will generate a video image so that your doctor can observe whether you have issues with blood flow. Your doctor will look for any venous leaks, artery hardness, or tissue scarring.
This exam is conducted while the penis is erect — often by injection of an erection-inducing substance to stimulate blood flow — and also while it is soft.
Treatments For Erectile Dysfunction
You will receive suggestions for the right treatment based on medical illnesses that could be contributing to or worsening your ED, depending on the cause and its severity. These are some of the options without involving surgery:
Oral medications
For many men, oral medicines are an effective ED treatment. Some of the medications consist of Sildenafil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Adcirca, Cialis), Vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), and Avanafil (Stendra). All these medications contain nitric oxide — a substance your body naturally makes, which relaxes penile muscles. As a result of the increased blood flow, you will get an erection from the sexual stimulation.
Mechanical aids
A new kind of treatment may be suggested by your doctor if drugs are ineffective or inappropriate for your condition. These erectile aids include penis pumps to create a vacuum that pulls blood into your penis and insert penile constriction rings at the base of your penis to hold in the blood to keep it firm.
Psychology and sex counselling
If your ED is brought on by stress, anxiety, or depression — or if the condition is causing stress and relationship conflict, your doctor might advise you to see a psychologist or counsellor. You can address feelings of anxiety, fear, or guilt that arose due to sexual dysfunction so you can accept and cope with the issues before opting for any invasive treatments.
Shift your lifestyle
Necessary approaches should be made to avoid the development of ED in those who are at risk due to daily behaviour. This means, shifting your lifestyle. You are recommended to start eating healthily. Men with ED can benefit from eating a diet low in saturated fat and high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
You should also maintain a healthy weight by lowering your cholesterol and exercising regularly. Choose exercises that you enjoy and can be made as a regular part of your day. Exercise not only lowers your risk of ED but also helps you manage your stress. But to be on the safe side, consult your doctor before starting any workout program.