(Erectile Dysfunction) (Most Common Male Cancers) (Sexual Infections)
(Fertility) (Five Important Male Health Issues )
(Fertility) (Five Important Male Health Issues )
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What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, which was previously referred to as “impotence”, is a physical condition, when a man cannot achieve an erection or maintain it. The ability to have an erection declines with age. Studies suggest that a whopping 50% of men over 40 will experience it at some point in their love lives. Further studies indicate that 25% of men over 60 and 70% over 70, have persistent or recurring erection problems.
Erectile dysfunction will happen to men at least once in his lifetime and is generally caused by certain worries, stress or too much alcohol consumed, but if the problem is no longer temporary, then it means that they need some form of erectile dysfunction treatment.
Previously this problem was not considered that common, but the reason for this was that not many men wanted to talk about this problem and share it with anybody. Now, as more and more treatments and medications that help people live with erectile dysfunction appear, men are not anymore scared to talk about it, and there are some detailed statistics available to study and understand the causes and tendencies of erectile dysfunction.
Some urologists say that the number of men looking for erectile dysfunction treatment will double in the next decade. In the UK there are approximately five million men age 50-64 and 4 million aged 65+, that would suggest that the number of men with persistent or recurring erectile dysfunction problems is in the order of 1 million and rising.
You need your partner's help
You need her help, for several reasons. Firstly, it's good to have your partner's emotional support. It is very important to know that the person who you love, and who loves you, is on your side in dealing with this difficulty. Now there will be two people fighting this battle. Your partner can help you to get erections. Various forms of stimulation by a woman can help a man get a hard-on when otherwise he wouldn't manage it. Such help could include stimulation with the hands, the breasts or the mouth. Simply sucking on a penis will often give it an erection when all else fails. Your wife can accompany you when you go to see a doctor. Virtually all experts agree that in cases of erectile dysfunction the outlook for the man is generally better if his partner can come to the consultation with him, and support him.
How can you tell your partner?
Often there is no problem about telling your partner, because she has already noticed it. Frequently, the man needs to explain the situation to his wife/girlfriend, yet doesn't know how, or what words to use. Good opening phrases include:
'There's something I need to talk to you about.'
'I've been having a bit of trouble with my personal parts/intimate bits/wedding tackle/sex organs.' Use whichever phrase feels comfortable for you.
'The fact is that during the last few days/weeks/months, I haven't been able to get an erection/get it up/make love.'
'I'm going to do something about it - and I'd very much like your help.'
Reassuring your partner
It's very, very important to reassure your partner that:
you still love her
you still find her very attractive
the problem is not connected with her in any way
there's no suggestion that you would prefer somebody else
the problem can be successfully treated these days by medication and other means
you are determined to get it treated.
What should you do if there are strains in your relationship?
There's no doubt that erectile dysfunction puts a big strain on many relationships. Either partner or both may start showing signs of stress. When this happens, it's important that the two of you seek help.
Don't try and muddle through alone. Ask your GP about the possibility of some helpful counselling. If matters are bad, it is well worth talking to Relate – a support organisation with a great track record in helping couples whose relationship is affected by erectile dysfunction. If you're running into difficulties with erections, the worst thing you can do is bottle it up. Whatever you do, make sure you talk to a doctor as well as your partner.
Erectile Dysfunction Causes
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by different reasons, both psychological and physical, or combined. The most common erectile dysfunction causes include all kinds of problems with blood flow, as well as damage of nerves. Vascular diseases, imbalance of hormones, abuse of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, traumas or surgeries, diseases like diabetes, psychological problems are the most common things that cause erectile dysfunction among men of any age or social status.
Vascular diseases among men most often result in impotence or problems with erection, especially for those over 60 years old. For this age group, up to 60% of men suffer from erectile dysfunction caused by vascular diseases, like arteriosclerosis. This disease reduces blood flow in the body by making arteries narrower and harder. Smoking can be one of the causes of arteriosclerosis, as it affects lungs, and therefore blood and arteries, and can lead to vascular diseases.
Diabetes is another common cause of erectile dysfunction. Constant high levels of blood sugar influence small blood vessels throughout the body, and affects nerves. This can cause problems with impulses and blood flow, which lowers the effectiveness of erection. It is a well-known factor that over 60% of men, who suffer from diabetes, also suffer from erectile dysfunction or complete impotence.
Abuse of substances, like alcohol, cigarettes and especially drugs commonly can become erectile dysfunction causes. These substances affect nervous and vascular systems greatly, which results in erectile problems. Prescribed medications, like antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medicine, sedative medications and tranquilizers contribute greatly to the possibility of erectile dysfunction.
Injuries and problematic surgeries also can be erectile dysfunction causes. Injuries of brain and spinal cord, such as stroke, can cause problems with erection, as they affect the transfer of impulses from brain to penis. Parkinson and Alzheimer’s diseases are also widespread causes of erectile dysfunction. Surgery of prostate and other surgeries in that area of body can cause problems with veins and nerves, which will as well result in erectile dysfunctions. Radiation therapy, which is used to cure bladder cancer, can also damage nerves that are used to cause erection. Injured or damaged veins can result in venous leaks, which are another cause of erectile dysfunction. If veins have leaks, it’s impossible to prevent leaving of blood from the penis; therefore, erection can only be maintained for some short period of time.
Psychological conditions are a reason for many minor erectile problems, but if not treated properly and on time, they can cause more serious erectile dysfunctions. Depression, stress, feeling of guilt and worries can cause loss of libido and problems with erection. And if inability to achieve erection happens to a men, he becomes even more worried and anxious about it.
Erectile Dysfunction and diabetes
There are a number of reasons why men with diabetes are prone to erectile dysfunction. Diabetes can damage the nerves, the erectile tissue and small blood vessels in the penis, as well as other tissues in the body.
Damage to the nerves, known as neuropathy, may mean that there is less sensation in the penis and less signalling to it from the brain, making it more difficult to get and maintain an erection. Damage to the erectile tissue will prevent the muscle fibres within it from adequately relaxing, so that the penis cannot fill with blood during erection. Damage to the blood vessels will also prevent the erectile tissues from filling with blood. Men with diabetes are more prone to high blood pressure. Many of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure can be responsible for causing erectile dysfunction. Diabetes increases your risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). If this affects the blood supply to the penis, it can cause impotence.
Blood sugar level and erectile dysfunction
Smoking and poor control of blood sugar make complications from diabetes, such as impotence, more likely. This is why it is important your diabetes treatment is optimised: good control of the blood sugar level will help maintain the body's ability to produce an erection. Stopping smoking is always a good idea.
How common are sexual problems in diabetes?
About 50 per cent of men with diabetes will experience some kind of sexual problem or loss of sexual desire as a result of their condition. In men, the most common sexual problem caused by diabetes is erectile dysfunction.
Most people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight and experience only mild symptoms, such as thirst and the desire to pass urine more often, for years before the diabetes is even noticed. Unfortunately, these mild symptoms don't mean the diabetes isn’t causing nerve and artery damage, and a high proportion of men newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes already show problems such as erectile dysfunction by the time it is recognised. This emphasises the need for people to be aware of the possible symptoms of diabetes and to see a doctor if they suspect they have the condition.
Erectile Dysfunction Vacuum Pumps
Erectile dysfunctions are treated in many different ways and choosing one of them depends on the kind of problem, symptoms and personal preferences. Widely used impotence treatment devices are erectile dysfunction vacuums. Although they are not very easy and sometimes not very convenient to use, they help many men and many couples have the sexual life they want.
Erectile dysfunction vacuums, also called VCD (vacuum constriction devices) are used manually to externally simulate and maintain erection. A regular erectile dysfunction vacuums usually consists of a plastic cylinder and a rubber ring (band). There are erectile dysfunction vacuums, which are operated manually, or run by batteries. The plastic cylinder is placed on the penis, and the pump is used to make it hard enough. Then a rubber band is placed on the penis closer to the body, which helps maintain the erection. Using the pump and the cylinder creates a vacuum in the chamber, which will result in penis erection. The constriction band will stop the blood from flowing out of the penis, which will keep it hard for as long as up to 30 minutes. It is not advised to use constriction rings for more than 25-30 minutes, as it can seriously damage veins and nervous system in the penis. Although erectile dysfunction vacuums are very complicated to use, and some people think that a third hand is necessary in order to take advantage of this great invention, which helps people with erection problems have sex, they are still very popular, especially among married couples.
The effectiveness of erectile dysfunction vacuums is constantly debated. Nevertheless, different studies show that from 50% to 80% of men, using pumps are satisfied with the results. Erectile dysfunction vacuum should not be used all the time, as with time it becomes less effective, as the body adjusts. No matter what are the causes of erectile dysfunction, it is safe and effective to use erectile dysfunction vacuums.
Although pumps are comparatively safe, they still have some side effects. Erectile dysfunction vacuums should not be used by people suffering from bleeding disorder, leukemia, and other problems with blood circulation. Side effect can include the following:
The erection is not natural and does not feel like natural
Penis can change color and become darker (sometimes can be even purple)
Because of incorrect blood circulation, penis can become cold and numb
Bruising can be caused by erectile dysfunction vacuums
Ejaculation usually feels the same, but is usually much weaker and a lot less semen come out of the penis. When the band is removed, the rest will come out though.
Erectile dysfunction vacuums can be used partially. For example, if there is a problem with achieving erection, but there is no trouble with maintaining it. In these cases the pump can be used and using a ring becomes not necessary.
Erectile dysfunction, which was previously referred to as “impotence”, is a physical condition, when a man cannot achieve an erection or maintain it. The ability to have an erection declines with age. Studies suggest that a whopping 50% of men over 40 will experience it at some point in their love lives. Further studies indicate that 25% of men over 60 and 70% over 70, have persistent or recurring erection problems.
Erectile dysfunction will happen to men at least once in his lifetime and is generally caused by certain worries, stress or too much alcohol consumed, but if the problem is no longer temporary, then it means that they need some form of erectile dysfunction treatment.
Previously this problem was not considered that common, but the reason for this was that not many men wanted to talk about this problem and share it with anybody. Now, as more and more treatments and medications that help people live with erectile dysfunction appear, men are not anymore scared to talk about it, and there are some detailed statistics available to study and understand the causes and tendencies of erectile dysfunction.
Some urologists say that the number of men looking for erectile dysfunction treatment will double in the next decade. In the UK there are approximately five million men age 50-64 and 4 million aged 65+, that would suggest that the number of men with persistent or recurring erectile dysfunction problems is in the order of 1 million and rising.
You need your partner's help
You need her help, for several reasons. Firstly, it's good to have your partner's emotional support. It is very important to know that the person who you love, and who loves you, is on your side in dealing with this difficulty. Now there will be two people fighting this battle. Your partner can help you to get erections. Various forms of stimulation by a woman can help a man get a hard-on when otherwise he wouldn't manage it. Such help could include stimulation with the hands, the breasts or the mouth. Simply sucking on a penis will often give it an erection when all else fails. Your wife can accompany you when you go to see a doctor. Virtually all experts agree that in cases of erectile dysfunction the outlook for the man is generally better if his partner can come to the consultation with him, and support him.
How can you tell your partner?
Often there is no problem about telling your partner, because she has already noticed it. Frequently, the man needs to explain the situation to his wife/girlfriend, yet doesn't know how, or what words to use. Good opening phrases include:
'There's something I need to talk to you about.'
'I've been having a bit of trouble with my personal parts/intimate bits/wedding tackle/sex organs.' Use whichever phrase feels comfortable for you.
'The fact is that during the last few days/weeks/months, I haven't been able to get an erection/get it up/make love.'
'I'm going to do something about it - and I'd very much like your help.'
Reassuring your partner
It's very, very important to reassure your partner that:
you still love her
you still find her very attractive
the problem is not connected with her in any way
there's no suggestion that you would prefer somebody else
the problem can be successfully treated these days by medication and other means
you are determined to get it treated.
What should you do if there are strains in your relationship?
There's no doubt that erectile dysfunction puts a big strain on many relationships. Either partner or both may start showing signs of stress. When this happens, it's important that the two of you seek help.
Don't try and muddle through alone. Ask your GP about the possibility of some helpful counselling. If matters are bad, it is well worth talking to Relate – a support organisation with a great track record in helping couples whose relationship is affected by erectile dysfunction. If you're running into difficulties with erections, the worst thing you can do is bottle it up. Whatever you do, make sure you talk to a doctor as well as your partner.
Erectile Dysfunction Causes
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by different reasons, both psychological and physical, or combined. The most common erectile dysfunction causes include all kinds of problems with blood flow, as well as damage of nerves. Vascular diseases, imbalance of hormones, abuse of drugs, alcohol and cigarettes, traumas or surgeries, diseases like diabetes, psychological problems are the most common things that cause erectile dysfunction among men of any age or social status.
Vascular diseases among men most often result in impotence or problems with erection, especially for those over 60 years old. For this age group, up to 60% of men suffer from erectile dysfunction caused by vascular diseases, like arteriosclerosis. This disease reduces blood flow in the body by making arteries narrower and harder. Smoking can be one of the causes of arteriosclerosis, as it affects lungs, and therefore blood and arteries, and can lead to vascular diseases.
Diabetes is another common cause of erectile dysfunction. Constant high levels of blood sugar influence small blood vessels throughout the body, and affects nerves. This can cause problems with impulses and blood flow, which lowers the effectiveness of erection. It is a well-known factor that over 60% of men, who suffer from diabetes, also suffer from erectile dysfunction or complete impotence.
Abuse of substances, like alcohol, cigarettes and especially drugs commonly can become erectile dysfunction causes. These substances affect nervous and vascular systems greatly, which results in erectile problems. Prescribed medications, like antidepressants, heart and blood pressure medicine, sedative medications and tranquilizers contribute greatly to the possibility of erectile dysfunction.
Injuries and problematic surgeries also can be erectile dysfunction causes. Injuries of brain and spinal cord, such as stroke, can cause problems with erection, as they affect the transfer of impulses from brain to penis. Parkinson and Alzheimer’s diseases are also widespread causes of erectile dysfunction. Surgery of prostate and other surgeries in that area of body can cause problems with veins and nerves, which will as well result in erectile dysfunctions. Radiation therapy, which is used to cure bladder cancer, can also damage nerves that are used to cause erection. Injured or damaged veins can result in venous leaks, which are another cause of erectile dysfunction. If veins have leaks, it’s impossible to prevent leaving of blood from the penis; therefore, erection can only be maintained for some short period of time.
Psychological conditions are a reason for many minor erectile problems, but if not treated properly and on time, they can cause more serious erectile dysfunctions. Depression, stress, feeling of guilt and worries can cause loss of libido and problems with erection. And if inability to achieve erection happens to a men, he becomes even more worried and anxious about it.
Erectile Dysfunction and diabetes
There are a number of reasons why men with diabetes are prone to erectile dysfunction. Diabetes can damage the nerves, the erectile tissue and small blood vessels in the penis, as well as other tissues in the body.
Damage to the nerves, known as neuropathy, may mean that there is less sensation in the penis and less signalling to it from the brain, making it more difficult to get and maintain an erection. Damage to the erectile tissue will prevent the muscle fibres within it from adequately relaxing, so that the penis cannot fill with blood during erection. Damage to the blood vessels will also prevent the erectile tissues from filling with blood. Men with diabetes are more prone to high blood pressure. Many of the medicines used to treat high blood pressure can be responsible for causing erectile dysfunction. Diabetes increases your risk of hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). If this affects the blood supply to the penis, it can cause impotence.
Blood sugar level and erectile dysfunction
Smoking and poor control of blood sugar make complications from diabetes, such as impotence, more likely. This is why it is important your diabetes treatment is optimised: good control of the blood sugar level will help maintain the body's ability to produce an erection. Stopping smoking is always a good idea.
How common are sexual problems in diabetes?
About 50 per cent of men with diabetes will experience some kind of sexual problem or loss of sexual desire as a result of their condition. In men, the most common sexual problem caused by diabetes is erectile dysfunction.
Most people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight and experience only mild symptoms, such as thirst and the desire to pass urine more often, for years before the diabetes is even noticed. Unfortunately, these mild symptoms don't mean the diabetes isn’t causing nerve and artery damage, and a high proportion of men newly diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes already show problems such as erectile dysfunction by the time it is recognised. This emphasises the need for people to be aware of the possible symptoms of diabetes and to see a doctor if they suspect they have the condition.
Erectile Dysfunction Vacuum Pumps
Erectile dysfunctions are treated in many different ways and choosing one of them depends on the kind of problem, symptoms and personal preferences. Widely used impotence treatment devices are erectile dysfunction vacuums. Although they are not very easy and sometimes not very convenient to use, they help many men and many couples have the sexual life they want.
Erectile dysfunction vacuums, also called VCD (vacuum constriction devices) are used manually to externally simulate and maintain erection. A regular erectile dysfunction vacuums usually consists of a plastic cylinder and a rubber ring (band). There are erectile dysfunction vacuums, which are operated manually, or run by batteries. The plastic cylinder is placed on the penis, and the pump is used to make it hard enough. Then a rubber band is placed on the penis closer to the body, which helps maintain the erection. Using the pump and the cylinder creates a vacuum in the chamber, which will result in penis erection. The constriction band will stop the blood from flowing out of the penis, which will keep it hard for as long as up to 30 minutes. It is not advised to use constriction rings for more than 25-30 minutes, as it can seriously damage veins and nervous system in the penis. Although erectile dysfunction vacuums are very complicated to use, and some people think that a third hand is necessary in order to take advantage of this great invention, which helps people with erection problems have sex, they are still very popular, especially among married couples.
The effectiveness of erectile dysfunction vacuums is constantly debated. Nevertheless, different studies show that from 50% to 80% of men, using pumps are satisfied with the results. Erectile dysfunction vacuum should not be used all the time, as with time it becomes less effective, as the body adjusts. No matter what are the causes of erectile dysfunction, it is safe and effective to use erectile dysfunction vacuums.
Although pumps are comparatively safe, they still have some side effects. Erectile dysfunction vacuums should not be used by people suffering from bleeding disorder, leukemia, and other problems with blood circulation. Side effect can include the following:
The erection is not natural and does not feel like natural
Penis can change color and become darker (sometimes can be even purple)
Because of incorrect blood circulation, penis can become cold and numb
Bruising can be caused by erectile dysfunction vacuums
Ejaculation usually feels the same, but is usually much weaker and a lot less semen come out of the penis. When the band is removed, the rest will come out though.
Erectile dysfunction vacuums can be used partially. For example, if there is a problem with achieving erection, but there is no trouble with maintaining it. In these cases the pump can be used and using a ring becomes not necessary.
