Erectile
Dysfunction (ED, Impotence)
Simply
put, impotence is the failure to achieve an erection, ejaculation,
or both. Men with sexual/erectile dysfunction may
complain of one or more of the following: loss of sexual
drive (libido), inability to initiate or maintain an erection,
ejaculatory failure, premature ejaculation, or inability
to achieve orgasm.
Transient
periods of sexual problems and impotence are not considered
erectile dysfunction and probably occur in one half of all
adult males at some point in their life. It is estimated
that nearly 30 million American men suffer from true erectile
dysfunction. This means that one out of every ten
men have some difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an
erection on a regular basis.
There
are many possible causes of erectile dysfunction
(ED). It is estimated that 60% of ED is due
to psychological issues, such as problems with self-esteem
and sexual anxiety/performance anxiety, or problems with
interpersonal relationships (feelings of guilt, fear, or
prior traumatic experiences). Medical
(organic) illnesses make up the other causes of ED (e.g.,
high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, hormonal problems,
spinal cord/brain injury, depression, etc). A
combination of both psychological and organic problems is
quite common and is believed to be the case in a majority
of patients.
Many
medications used to treat other illness, including the medical
problems listed above, themselves cause ED! Click
here for a list of common drugs and medications that
can cause sexual and erectile dysfunction.
There
are a many of treatment options for erectile dysfunction.
These include counseling and sex therapy, medications (e.g.,
Viagra), and medical (and non-medical) devices and apparati.
Click here for a listing of common
treatments for impotence and erectile dysfunction.
