Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is defined as sexual
dysfunction or inability to maintain an erection of penis during sexual
intercourse. The most important causes of erectile dysfunction are
cardiovascular disease, diabetes, neurological problems, hormonal
insufficiencies and drug side effects.
Psychological impotence: psychological
impotence is where erection is fails due to thoughts or feelings.
Causes of erectile dysfunction
Drugs (anti
depressants and nicotine are most common)
Neurological
disorders (spinal cord and brain injuries)
Psychological
causes (performance anxiety, stress, and mental disorder)
Surgery
(radiation therpy, colon, prostrate and bladder cancer)
Ageing
Kidney failure
Diabetes and
multiple sclerosis
Life style
(smoking is the key cause)
Diagnosis of erectile dysfunction
There is no formal test to diagnosis erectile
dysfunction. Some blood tests are generally done to exclude underlying cause of
disease. A useful and simple way to distinguish between physiological &
psychological impotence is whether patient ever had an erection or not. If
never, the problem is psysiological, if sometimes than it could be
physiological or psychological.
Treatment
Exercise particularly aerobic exercise
is an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Medication
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors
The cyclic nucleotide Phosphodiesterase
constitutes a group of enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the cyclic
nucleotides cyclic AMP and cyclic GMP. They exist in different molecular forms
and are unevenly distributed throughout the body.
One of the forms of Phosphodiesterase
is termed PDE5. The prescription PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil
(Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis) are prescription drugs which are taken
orally. They work by blocking the action of PDE5, which causes GMP to
degrade.
Alprostadil
Alprostadil in combination with the permeation
enhancer DDAIP has been approved in Canada under the brand name Vitaros
as a topical cream first line treatment for erectile dysfunction.
Another treatment regimen is injection
therapy. One of the following drugs is injected into the penis: papaverine,
phentolamine, and prostaglandin E1.
Surgery
Often, as a last
resort if other treatments have failed, the most common procedure is prosthetic
implants which involve the insertion of artificial rods into the penis.
Device
PENIS PUMP
The device helps draw blood into the
penis by applying negative pressure. This type of device is sometimes referred
to as penis pump and may be used just prior to sexual intercourse.
Several types of FDA approved vacuum therapy devices are available with a
doctor's prescription.
