Erectile dysfunction is one of the least talked-about problems in men. The reason behind this is not just the social taboo, but also because of other ‘sigma males.’ The general narrative that riddles the society is that virility is equivalent to strength. The sole marker makes a man, a ‘MAN.”
In this article, we will be diving deep into understanding the fundamentals of your penis and what causes it to lose virility. Therefore, follow along if you want to learn more about erectile dysfunction.
Let’s go!
Understanding Erection?
Before agreeing to any external procedure like inserting a penile prosthesis or getting a surgery done, you must understand the basics of erection. Erection is when your penis becomes hard due to blood inflow caused by a sexual stimulation.
This stimulation causes your penis to stand up and be ready for sex. Apart from sexual stimulation, stress and heightened emotional reactivity can also cause your penis to stand up. Erections generally go away with time or after ejaculation.
If this is the normal happening of things, what is erectile dysfunction? Let us understand that now.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is a quite common problem that affects close to 52% of men around the globe. The general age bracket of ED patients ranges between 40 and 70 years of age. This might not be a life-threatening disease, but it can affect a person’s life and intimacy.
The worst part of ED is that it comes with a lot of social taboos. As a result, men suffering from the disease generally find it difficult to ask for help. This creates a cycle where the afflicted becomes ostracized.
Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction
The causes of ED are multifactorial. Many cases are linked to underlying physiological conditions such as cardiovascular disease (including atherosclerosis and hypertension), diabetes mellitus, hormonal disorders (hypogonadism), and neurological conditions.
Certain medications may also contribute to ED, including antihypertensives, antidepressants, and antiandrogens. Lifestyle factors, including smoking, excessive alcohol intake, obesity, and lack of physical activity, can also contribute significantly.
Moreover, psychological elements like stress, anxiety (particularly performance anxiety), and depression can play a primary role or exacerbate existing physical causes. A comprehensive understanding of these contributing factors is essential for a practical approach to management and treatment.
Symptoms & Diagnosis
As the name suggests, the common symptom of erectile dysfunction is being unable to stay erect or hard for an extended time. However, in some cases, erectile dysfunction is in itself one of the symptoms. Here are some diagnoses that can help you understand the underlying problem:
- Patient History: A detailed conversation with the doctor would help them understand the patient’s history and the general severity of the condition. It can also help the doctor assess whether the symptoms are physical or mental in nature.
- Physical Examination: Once the patient’s history is assessed, the doctor will resort to physical examination to see if any underlying reasons could trigger the problem.
- Medical Tests: The last leg of the process is getting the medical tests done. Medical tests for ED patients include urine and blood tests. Doctors usually look for traces of diabetes, testosterone levels, and heart disease. Doctors even use an NPT testing to assess blood flow in the penis.
How To Differentiate Between Chronic & Acute Erectile Dysfunction
ED is a common problem affecting more than 50% of males. However, it can be segregated into two different forms, acute and chronic ED. Acute or temporary cases of erectile dysfunction are generally caused by stress, alcohol, or fatigue. Temporary ED typically subsides after some lifestyle changes.
Meanwhile, the problem becomes chronic if it persists for an extended period. According to doctors, erectile dysfunction persisting for more than three months generally indicates that it is chronic.
However, experts like Dr. Perlmutter claim, “There really is no line in the sand when it comes to diagnosis. It really just depends on how bothered that patient is. Even if it’s once and it causes a lot of bother, we treat them. If it’s five times a month and they’re not bothered by it, we leave them alone.”
Therefore, it is safe to say that this is a patient-driven treatment.
Treating Erectile Dysfunction
Treating ED is a highly patient-driven intervention. This means the treatment largely depends on the patient and their feelings. If a patient is too bothered, he would seek more aggressive treatment options. Here are some of the tried and tested methods of treating erectile dysfunction that have worked well:
- Medicinal Approach: This is the most straightforward approach, in which the patient is given a variety of medicines that can restore lost virility. However, these medicines can have long-lasting effects on the human body, so they need to be administered cautiously.
- Therapy & Counselling Approach: In most cases, erectile dysfunction is caused by stress that can be helped using proper counselling techniques. Therefore, this is another non-invasive method that doctors prescribe.
- Surgical Approach: This is reserved for people suffering from chronic erectile dysfunction. In such cases, a penile prosthetics or a similar contraption is inserted into the penis. There are different variations, and you need to consult a professional to understand which is best for your requirements.
Living With Erectile Dysfunction (As A Partner/Patient)
Living with erectile dysfunction can be a challenging task, to say the least. Apart from the medical aspect, it can ruin marriages or relationships. Therefore, coping with the challenges of ED is a joint onus of the couple.
If your partner is facing issues regarding erection, you need to be supportive and help them, not accuse them or take your frustration out on them. Otherwise, the road will become arduous and not serve you or your relationship well.
Therefore, be a team and support each other and ensure that you find ways to make each other sexually satisfied by other means, like fellatio or cunnilingus. Using toys or going a little edgy might even work.
What we mean to say is that it is not the end of the world. So do not see it like one.
READ MORE:
