Erectile dysfunction affects thousands of men across the United States every year. It is a condition that can cause them to have a low self-esteem and great embarrassment. Though they suffer from this condition, many men may not understand what erectile dysfunction is or why it happens. Knowing this information can help ease their minds; it can help them realize that their problem is medical rather than a personal inability to perform.
Definition
Erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to either achieve or maintain an erection before or during sexual intercourse.
Significance
Erectile dysfunction can actually be a symptom to a more serious, underlying health problem.
Psychological Causes
Stress, such as work or finances, guilt caused from being unable to please his partner, or anxiety due to the condition itself.
Physical Causes
Both kidney and vascular disease restrict the flow of blood to the penis, inhibiting its ability to become erect. Neurological disorders, such as a stroke, block the nerve impulses that travel between the brain and the penis.
Diagnosis
The doctor will generally begin by asking a series of personal questions about his medical and sexual history. This general exam is then accompanied by tests such as blood tests, a urinalysis, and an ultrasound.
Treatment
Erectile dysfunction can be treated in various ways; the gentleman can seek the help of a sex therapist, take medication like Viagra, or undergo surgery to receive a penis implant.
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