HOW TO DIAGNOSE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

Diagnosis of erectile dysfunction made on the basis of questionnaire asked by the doctor to his/her patient; the patient should make sure to be honest and open about his answers. If the doctor suspects about any underlying disease might involve, he/she will then advice you to undergo other specific tests in such cases.

 

EXAMINATIONS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

·     PHYSICAL EXAMINATION-this is done to rule out whether a person is having good sensations in the nerves of his pelvic region; physical examination is also helpful in finding out any underlying issue.

·     PSYCHOLOGICAL EXAMINATION-this examination will include questions related to patient’s personal life, professional life & other mental issue that may be affecting the person like stress, depression, anxiety, fear etc.

·     BLOOD TESTS- blood tests are done to rule out if any systemic vascular condition is underlying in the patient & may cause symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

·     URINALYSIS- this test helps to rule out several health problems like diabetes that could causing the symptoms of ED.

 

TRAUMA TO THE PELVIC AREA & ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Any trauma or physical damage like any deformity or fracture of the penis can cause erectile dysfunction & will have the same result as if blood supply of the penis is interrupted or nerves of the pelvic region are damaged.

Deformity of penis like “PEYRONIE’S DISEASE” is a non-cancerous condition results due to development of a scar tissue on the penis & makes the penis curved resulting in painful erections & shortening of the penis. This deformity of penis causes a significant bend or pain in some men & can develop condition of erectile dysfunction.

The deformities of penis and/or any physical damage to the pelvic area can only be treatable by a surgical procedure, also known as “REVASCULARISATION”. In this procedure new blood vessels are placed by the doctors around the existing blockages to restore necessary blood flow.

 

NEUROGENIC CAUSES OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

 

The distressing condition of ED when caused by some neurogenic causes, it is then termed as “NEUROGENIC ED” & it is one of the common causes of erectile dysfunction which usually damage the nerve supply of the penis. There are several types of neurological disorders that usually affect brain’s ability to communicate with the penis which ultimately can result condition of ED to develop.

 

WHAT CAUSES NEUROGENIC ED?

 

A variety of neurological diseases can cause erectile dysfunction.

·      PARKINSON’S DISEASE- It is a neurological disorder that especially affects the movement of an individual; people with this underlying condition can develop symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

·     MULTIPLE SCLEROSIS- It is an autoimmune neurological disorder which affects brain’s parts that are responsible for proper erection.

·     STROKE- this condition can contribute in causing ED & can also worsen the condition of ED which already exists.

·     PERIPHERAL NEUROLOGICAL IMPAIRMENT-this condition damages the peripheral nerves & can result ED.

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION & ITS VASCULOGENIC CAUSES

Erectile dysfunction can affect men of any age & it is important to consult your doctor to know the exact cause of this problem. Erectile dysfunction caused by some vasculogenic factors is called “VASCULOGENIC ED” which always precedes conditions like atherosclerosis & other cardiovascular diseases like myocardial infarction & stroke. 

Vascular diseases affect the structure & function of the blood vessels; the diseases reduce the blood flow in the organs such as in heart, brain, and kidneys & also in organs like penis due to which the condition of erectile dysfunction can develop. Usually a vascular disease happens when the cholesterol builds up in the arteries & causes blockage of the blood vessel, due to which the arteries & the veins in the penis may not work normally; they may prevent the sufficient amount of blood to flow into the penis & eventually can results erectile dysfunction.

WHAT ARE THE COMMON VASCULAR DISEASES THAT CAN CAUSE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

A number of health conditions are linked with the vascular diseases & clogged arteries.

Coronary artery disease

Hypertension

Diabetes

High cholesterol

Peripheral vascular disease. 

 

 DIABETES & THE DISTRESS OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

The distress caused by inability to achieve a long-lasting erection can be very upsetting & it is the commonest thing one notice in case of ED.

ED is a condition in which a man has a persistent inability in achieving & maintaining an erection that is needed for intercourse.

Diabetes (especially TYPE-2 diabetes) usually causes nerve damage & damage to the blood Therefore, proper management of blood sugar level is essential.

Most of the men are reluctant to discuss their problem of ED with their doctor, but one should leave his embarrassment as one small conversation can make a big difference.

 

MAKE GOOD LIFESTYLE CHOICES

 

Try taking these approaches to improve erectile dysfunction & existing condition of diabetes.

·     QUIT SMOKING- Habitual tobacco smoking narrows the blood vessels eventually which can cause erectile dysfunction or even can worsen the existing condition of ED.

·     MANAGE WEIGHT- Loose excess of kilograms, as being overweight can cause development of erectile dysfunction.

·     INCLUDE EXERCISE IN YOUR ROUTINE-exercise can help in recovering from the underlying conditions; it reduces stress, increasing blood flow & plays a part in correcting ED in a number of ways. It helps in controlling excess of blood sugar levels by improving insulin sensitivity.

·     LIMIT THE ALCOHOL INTAKE-Choose to drink alcohol in moderation as excess of alcohol intake can contribute to cause erectile dysfunction.

·      CHECK OUT THE GLYCEMIC INDEX-eat every food stuff after the quick check on the Glycemic index to avoid intake of excess of sugar that can worsen the condition of diabetes & existing condition of erectile dysfunction.

 

 

 

 

HOW HYPERTENSION & ATHEROSCLEROSIS CAN CAUSE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Hypertension is condition that can contribute in causing erectile dysfunction. Prolonged conditions of high BP can cause symptoms of ED. The hypertensive male of age group between 40-70 years are more prone to develop the symptoms of ED. High blood pressure makes the arteries hard & narrow which ultimately prevents them from dilating. This dilation of arteries disrupts the flow of blood into the penis. High blood pressure can also causes loosening of the smooth muscles of the penis due to which the flow of the blood in the penis decreases from the normal blood flow that is required to make the penis erect properly. Therefore, it is important to maintain normal blood pressure to overcome the symptoms of ED.

 Atherosclerosis is a cardiac condition in which a buildup of “ATHEROMA” (fatty substance) forms in the arteries which causes the narrowing of the arteries. To get a proper erection & even to maintain an erection, the blood flow into the penis should be sufficient but in case of atherosclerosis, collection of fatty substance occurs & the blood flow in the penis decreases which affect the man’s ability to get & maintain an erection properly.

 

WHAT ARE THE RISK FACTORS OF ATHEROSCLEROSIS FOR THE MEN WITH ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

  Atherosclerosis happens due to a variety of reasons like:

·     HIGH CHOLESTEROL LEVELS- high cholesterol level can increases the buildup of fatty substance in the arteries & ultimately develop condition like atherosclerosis.

·    CIGARETTE SMOKING- habitual cigarette smoking can damage the blood vessels; it gradually affects the normal structure & function of the arteries & results in development of condition like atherosclerosis.

·    HYPERTENSION- high blood pressure for a prolonged period of time can affect the structure of arteries & also cause their narrowing.

·    DIABETES MELLITUS- diabetes can cause development of atherosclerosis & also cause progression of the disease in an individual with an existing one.

·    UNDERLYING CONDITION OF OBESITY-the condition of obesity can lead to cause structural & functional changes in the arteries; it can further increase the progression of condition like atherosclerosis in an individual.

 

 

 

 

 

 

MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT CAN CAUSE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

 

Erectile dysfunction is becoming a more frequent problem; it can cause by a number of underlying medical conditions. In often times treating the underlying condition is enough to reverse this condition. It is estimated that erectile dysfunction affects about 1 in every 10 males.

 

MEDICAL CONDITIONS THAT COMMONLY CAUSE ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

 

Erectile dysfunction can occur due to a variety of underlying conditions like:

·     CARDIAC CONDITIONS: Health issues that are originated in the heart & blood flow such as heart diseases, high cholesterol, hypertension & atherosclerosis can cause erectile dysfunction. These diseases, which account for 70% of physical-related causes of ED, restrict blood flow to the heart, the brain, and in the case of ED to the penis.  

·     ENDOCRINE DISORDERS: The endocrine system of our body is a network of glands & organs that regulates various bodily functions. Endocrine disorders create hormonal imbalance in our body as it can cause the disturbance in the production of hormones & this imbalance of hormones in the body can cause erectile dysfunction. Endocrine disorders such as diabetes & hypogonadism (low levels of testosterone hormone) can affect a man’s ability to maintain a complete erection.

·     NEUROLOGICAL & NERVE DISORDERS: The nervous system of our body plays a vital role in achieving & maintaining an erection. Medical conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, a brain tumor, multiple sclerosis & stroke can affect the brain’s function to communicate with the penis of man & ultimately can develop symptoms of erectile dysfunction.

·     PROSTATE PROBLEMS- Prostate problems such as benign prostate hyperplasia (enlarged prostate gland) & prostatic cancer are associated with erectile dysfunction. Prostate problems don’t cause ED on its own, but treatment for prostate cancer can lead to erectile problems.

 HORMONAL CAUSES OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Deficiency of hormones can play a major role in affecting the erection in men. The complex process of erection is related with the hormonal factors & presence of any hormonal defect can create an imbalance in the body & ultimately can affect the sexual functions.

The testes in the male body produce a hormone, known as “TESTOSTERONE”. This hormone helps in maintaining the sexual functions & sexual features in men. It also helps the men in developing the muscle mass & adequate levels of red blood cells.

When insufficient amount of testosterone is produced by the testes, it will affect a man’s sex drive. Low levels of testosterone can cause low libido, this condition is known as “HYPOGONADISM”. Low levels of testosterone can reduce man’s ability to have satisfying sex & can strongly contribute in making the condition of erectile dysfunction even worse. Low testosterone levels in a man's body can cause nerve damage and can interfere with the production of nitric oxide, which is an important signaling molecule found naturally in the body that plays an important role in proper erectile function.

 

 

   COMMON CAUSES OF LOW TESTOSTERONE

  Insufficiency of testosterone can occur due to variety of reasons:

• Any injury, trauma or infection of the testes like “ORCHITIS” (inflammation of testicles), which is capable enough to interrupt the blood supply to the testes.

• Aging is another important cause of low testosterone in men; with age the levels of this hormone starts reducing.

• Dysfunction of pituitary gland due to presence of any tumor in the gland.

• Any underlying acute or chronic illness like acute renal failure, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, obesity, severe primary hypothyroidism etc.

• Underlying condition of HIV/AIDS.

• Alcohol abuse can also alter the normal production of testosterone.

• Pubertal delay in some men can affect the production of testosterone.

• Head injury and/or exposure of head to radiation therapy or any prior surgery of head can also contribute in the lowering the levels of testosterone.

  

 PSYCHOLOGICAL TRIGGERS OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

When erectile dysfunction is resulted by the psychology of an individual, it is then known as “PSYCHOLOGICAL ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION”.

 

  TYPES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TRIGGERS OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

   ED can be triggered by a number of psychological factors.

STRESS & ANXIETY- ED can cause stress & anxiety. Though stress & anxiety are two different things, they are co-related when it comes to the problem of erectile dysfunction. In a stressed man, the brain’s ability to cause the proper erection gets affected; the stress in turn places more pressure on performance & affect the sexual performance of an individual.

RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS- Making a healthy relationship is a big task & also not an easy one. It takes time to truly get to know someone. If a couple experiencing some trouble in the relationship, it could create disturbance in their sex life also. It can also affect the ability of the brain to achieve a proper erection & eventually cause erectile dysfunction.

DEPRESSION- It can affect all the aspects of one’s life. Depression contributes in causing feeling of sadness & despair; it increases the level of frustration & irritability; it can lower down the self-esteem of an individual and all these symptoms of depression together can affect one’s ability to achieve proper erection. Depression can increase the nervousness about being able to satisfy his partner & eventually that nervousness may lead to sexual dysfunction.

 

 WHAT IS ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

Erectile Dysfunction, also called as Impotence is a condition in which a man is unable to maintain an erection firm enough for sex. It can also mean a reduced need or desire for intercourse.

WHAT CAUSES ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

Erectile Dysfunction can happen due to a variety of reasons.

• Psychological – The mind plays an important role in having and maintaining a healthy sexual relationship. Many factors like depression, anxiety, stress, relationship problems etc can interfere with sexual feelings and can contribute to reducing or worsening of erections and physical pleasure.
• Hormonal – Deficiency of certain hormones, with Testosterone being the most important one, can cause or worsen libido, erections and performance.
• Medical conditions - Heart patients, Diabetics, Stroke etc 
• Vasculogenic – As erections are caused by sufficient flow of blood into the penis when a male is aroused, any deficiency or lack of blood flow when needed can cause or worsen erections.
• Neurogenic – Damage to the nerve supply of the penis can occur due to various causes and can cause sudden erectile dysfunction which does not respond to most common treatments.
• Trauma/ Physical damage – Deformity or fracture/ damage of the penis can lead to erectile dysfunction, which can be reversed/ treated with proper surgical repair.