Posts Tagged ‘Erectile Dysfunction’

How is Impotence Diagnosed?

Tuesday, June 8th, 2010

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is defined as the inability to achieve or sustain an erection that is satisfactory for the purpose of sexual intercourse. This is a common sexual condition that affects most men at some point of time in their lives. It can become a problem, however, if it persists over a long period of time. Your doctor will be able to diagnose erectile dysfunction based on the following information.

Medical history
Your medical as well as sexual history helps to determine the nature and degree of impotence you suffer from. A detailed medical history can reveal the diseases that might have contributed to erectile dysfunction. Disclosing your previous and current sexual history will help your doctor to determine whether your problem is associated with libido, erection, ejaculation or orgasm. If you have a history of taking prescription or recreational drugs, there might be a chemical cause of your erectile dysfunction. The effects of medications are responsible for about 25% of impotence cases. This can be resolved by asking your doctor to prescribe alternative medications or altering the dosage to a safer level.

Laboratory testing
Lab tests are often used to diagnose impotence. You might be required to get tested for systemic diseases such as urinalysis, blood count, lipid as well as measuring liver enzymes and creatinine. If you suffer from low libido, measuring testosterone levels in the blood can reveal problems in your endocrine system.

Physical examination
Systemic problems can be detected by a simple physical examination. For instance, if your penis is unable to respond normally to certain kinds of touching, there might be a problem in the nervous system. You have a hormonal problem if there are secondary sex characteristics including hair pattern. If there is an aneurysm in your abdomen, a problem in the blood circulatory is the most likely cause of erectile dysfunction.

Psycho-social examination
A psycho-social examination for diagnosing erectile dysfunction consists of a questionnaire and interview. Your sexual partner might also be interviewed to allow your doctor to understand the perceptions and expectations involved in your sexual experiences. Psychological factors such as guilt, stress, depression, low self esteem, anxiety and fear of failure in bed account for about 10-20% of impotence cases.

Erectile dysfunction treatment usually consists of prescription medications and/or therapeutic counselling with a qualified psychologist.

Psychological ED Problem

Friday, April 30th, 2010

There are many causes responsible for ED problem in men like physical causes, effect of certain type of medications and psychological factors. Among the many causes behind erectile dysfunction, psychological reasons contribute to about 10-20% of all the ED cases in men.

In many cases, psychological and physical causes overlap resulting into the said condition. According to experts, psychological problems are responsible for ED problem in younger men. Anxiety, depression, low self esteem, stress are few of the psychological causes of ED. Anxiety and depression are two emotional disorders which are most commonly found to be associated with psychological impotence or erectile dysfunction.

Performance anxiety is a fear of not being able to satisfy partner. This anxiety constricts the flow of blood in and out of penis resulting in erection difficulties.

Like anxiety, stress also results in consistent ED. Stress can be due to problems at work place, money related problems, relationship problem which prohibit man to perform well during sexual activity.

Depression, another strong factor associated with ED can result in loss of libido and sexual desire. Certain medications used to treat depression can further result in erectile dysfunction.

Low self esteem can be the result of previous bad sexual experiences or prior ED experiences or non sexual related experiences.

It is very necessary to reach to the exact psychological cause behind the problem so as to find exact measure to rectify the problem. Addressing your problems and eliminating risk factors responsible for it is the key to regain control over lost erections.

Is there a relationship between Erectile Difficulties and Low Sex Drive?

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Erectile dysfunction (ED) and a low sex drive or libido, are both forms of sexual dysfunction. But, you cannot draw a link between the two. The fact that you are suffering from erection problems doesn’t mean that you also suffer from low sex drive.

A person suffering from ED can have a normal sex drive
If you have a problem in experiencing an erection or sustaining it for a long period of time, it’s could be because the blood flow to your penis is restricted for some reason or the other. It’s not because you are not sexually aroused enough. You might have as much of a desire to have sex as the next man, but problems with the process of erection make it difficult for you to have satisfying sex.

A person suffering from low sex drive can have some degree of ED
There is a chance that if you are suffering from low sex drive, you might face a degree of erection problems. But more often than not, it’s a result of the fact that you aren’t getting sexually stimulated enough. It’s important to understand that men who suffer from low sex drive have very little, if anything, wrong with their penile functioning. They can experience an erection. What they don’t experience is a desire to have sex.

Treating the condition
There is also no link between the treatments available for ED and low sex drive. There are some people who have an erroneous belief that prescription medications like Levitra, Viagra, and Cialis can also help treat low sex drive. But they do nothing of the sort. Treatment for low sex drive concentrates on offering counseling to those suffering from the condition. If there is some psychological reason behind low sex drive, it is specifically addressed during these counseling sessions.

Source of information: http://www.6thsenselondon.com/general/is-there-a-relationship-between-erectile-difficulties-and-low-sex-drive/

Cialis – The Extra Needed Boost

Thursday, February 4th, 2010

Perfect health is a prerequisite to enjoying life to the fullest. Therefore, man’s helplessness to perform sexually is considered a sign of poor health. Unable to achieve sexual gratification, a man loses his self-esteem. Erectile dysfunction (ED) becomes a primary cause of discord in life.

Stress or an unhealthy lifestyle can result in ED. However with Cialis Tadalafil, result of a modern medical breakthrough, your ED disorder can be treated satisfactorily. Choosing Cialis to treat your erection problems turns out to be simpler, easier method. Cialis is a popularly rising drug brand that is widely used as a weekend-pill. Cialis has given extra boost to the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Cialis is also available as daily use medicine in smaller doses 2.5mg 5mg whereas regular cialis comes in dosages of 10mg 20mg and remains active up to 36 hours. One important point to make a note of is that Cialis helps with erection problems but cannot treat orgasm disorders.

Are you looking to buy Cialis online? Internet pharmacies are becoming a rage due to both convenience and cost. Apart from the prescription drugs, online pharmacies also cater for other allied health products and pharmacy consultations. Major benefit of internet buying is that, you are saved the embarrassment of interacting directly with your doctor or the pharmacist. Internet buying has in fact established a very convenient and simple way to procure the desired medications at our doorstep.

Keep Precautions as well as the Contraindications in mind when using ED drugs

Saturday, December 26th, 2009

The FDA approved erectile dysfunction (ED) treatment drugs such as: Viagra, Levitra and Cialis belong to the same class of medicines called PDE5 inhibitors; hence, these drugs essentially have the same mechanism of action. In addition, their contraindications and side effects are also quite similar.

Though all the 3 ED drugs – Viagra, Levitra and Cialis – are proven to be safe as well as effective in numerous clinical trials, you need to adhere to their safety warnings and precautions. These are serious prescription medicines and their use can prove dangerous if you take it against the advice of your doctor.

Precautions you need to keep in mind while using ED drugs

  • ED drugs should not be used by men with normal sexual function
  • Children below 18 years of age and women should not use ED drugs
  • You should not use ED drugs if you have any known allergy to any component of the ED drug you intent to use
  • Always use ED drugs after consulting a doctor and in the dosage recommended by your doctor

Contraindications associated with ED drugs

  • ED drugs should not be used by men who suffer from certain medical conditions or who are using certain medicines. Discussed below are some of the contraindications associated with ED drugs.
  • ED drugs should never be used by men taking any form of nitrate medications often advised for chest pain
  • Men using alpha-blocker medicines should use ED drugs with caution
  • ED drugs should not be used by men in whom sexual activity is inadvisable because of their underlying cardiovascular status
  • ED drugs should not be used by men suffering from severe hepatic impairment (decreased liver function) or severe impairment in renal function
  • Men with low blood pressure or those who have had a stroke or heart attack recently should not use ED drugs

Levitra vardenafil – The drug that treats Erectile Dysfunction

Saturday, November 14th, 2009

At some point in their lives, most men experience sexual difficulties or dissatisfaction. A number of scientific surveys have also reported that more than 150 million men worldwide suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), but less than 10% of them seek any kind of help in order to overcome this condition. Until a few years ago, there was no scientifically-tested and proven remedy or treatment for this condition, unless you counted herbal or quack remedies that were not really effective or reliable. However, a number of prescription-only oral medications for treating impotence entered the market, giving fresh hope to men who were resigned to living with erectile dysfunction. Viagra (sildenafil citrate) was the first oral drug that revolutionized the male impotence market and has a head start over newer competitors like Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil hydrochloride). However, with the expiration of its patents, a large slice of the global sales pie has now been captured by its arch rival, Levitra.

What is Levitra?
Contrary to common misperceptions, Levitra is not an aphrodisiac or a means of birth control. It is a prescription-only pill, meant to be taken orally, that helps to treat ED problems such as inability to achieve and maintain erections. Available in the form of 2.5mg, 5mg, 10mg and 20mg tablets, it is manufactured by Bayer Pharmaceuticals and distributed by GlaxoSmithKline. Levitra belongs to the family of drugs known as PDE-5 inhibitors that improve the flow of blood to the penis, counteracting the effects of the chemical PDE-5. However, Levitra is not a miracle drug and is not effective in the absence of external stimulation.

How Levitra excels over other ED treatments
Although Levitra works on the same principle as do other PDE-5 inhibitors like Viagra and Cialis, it is gradually becoming more popular because it produces its effects faster (within 30 and 40 minutes). This is so because of the efficiency of active ingredient, vardenafil, in Levitra. The effects of Levitra also stay longer (up to 16 hours). Moreover, unlike Viagra, you don’t have to avoid rich or fatty foods before taking Levitra. Levitra definitely gives better results compared to other drugs for overcoming ED.

Adhering to Cialis precautions can prevent untoward side effects

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

Cialis is an oral treatment pill for erectile dysfunction. It’s prescribed for men who suffer from mild to severe erection problems. You can find various treatments for erectile dysfunction in men, but Cialis distinguishes itself due to its longer lasting effects.

The effect of one dose of prescription Cialis remains active in your body for about 36 hours, which is a good enough time for you to indulge in sexual activity at will. During the 36-hour window of opportunity, you can have an erection and sexual intercourse that is completely spontaneous. However, you shouldn’t take Cialis without going through its important safety information or precautions. Cialis can have possible side effects that are generally mild in nature and go away with regular use.

Precautions include:

  • You shouldn’t combine Cialis with other erectile dysfunction treatment drugs
  • You shouldn’t drink too much alcohol when you plan to take Cialis
  • You shouldn’t combine Cialis with any form of nitrate drugs or alpha-blockers
  • You should inform your doctor if you suffer from other medical conditions

Possible side effects
Some of the common side effects of Cialis are facial flushing, upset stomach, headache, indigestion, back pain, muscle aches and stuffy or runny nose. These side effects don’t last long and go generally go away after some time.

Cialis (tadalafil)may also bring on certain uncommon or rare side effects such as sudden decrease or loss of vision or hearing. Very rarely, it may also cause pripiasm, a sexual condition in which an erection persists for more than 4 hours, thus increasing the risk of permanent damage to the penis. If you experience such a condition with Cialis, you should immediately rush to a medical doctor for help.

If you leave out the rare side effects, which are otherwise negligible, you will understand that almost all prescription pills are known to cause certain side effects; however, the intensity of the side effect differs from individual to individual. Cialis is otherwise considered to be a safe and effective drug for erectile dysfunction treatment. However, you shouldn’t take Cialis without the approval from your doctor.

Viagra: Does it work for all?

Monday, July 27th, 2009

Viagra was the first available oral treatment for male impotence. It is available in the form of a pill that is easy to take and remains active in the body for about four hours. Before buying Viagra, you should obtain a medical prescription from a doctor.

What should I tell my doctor or health care provider?
The best thing to do initially is to book an appointment with a doctor. You can start the conversation with a doctor by asking about Viagra and whether you can take it or not? The doctor will more than likely question your medical history in detail as well as your current condition simply to get a thorough understanding of what you are suffering from. The doctor will then try to diagnose the exact cause of your impotence problem. If you are found an eligible candidate for taking Viagra, then the doctor may issue a medical prescription, which allows you to buy Viagra from any local licensed pharmacy.

Most men are embarrassed to talk about their sexual problems, even with a doctor. They live with this condition for many years and suffer silently. There is no need to suffer anymore if you have impotence as there are effective treatments, including Viagra that can easily be bought online. There are many reliable online sources that provide professional services and sell Viagra online with proper prescription methods.

Does Viagra work for all?
Viagra is not for everyone. It is prescribed by the doctor to only those men who suffer from erectile dysfunction and depending upon their suitability for this pill. It may not suit those men who are allergic to Sildenafil, the active ingredient of Viagra, or its inactive ingredients. For men that cannot take Viagra, there are other suitable treatments that a doctor will be able to suggest after a consultation.

An important precaution when taking Viagra is that it should not be combined with any form of nitrate medication, which is generally prescribed to men for treating chest pain. The combination of Viagra and nitrates may drop the blood pressure of a patient to unsafe levels.

Stress effect on a Man’s Erections

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

Erectile problems can sometimes be very embarrassing and troublesome for men. There is a common myth that men are always ready to have sex and can achieve erection anytime but the fact is that men sexuality is more complex as compared to women.

Though there are several factors which influence man’s ability to keep erection. It might be stress, medications, fatigue, relationship problems, performance anxiety but stress is one major factor which is often neglected or overlooked. A man’s erections can be affected by stress or pressure from work, family or anything else. Penis gets erect due to sexual or mental excitement along with physical excitement and in presence of mental pressure, physical stimulation might not be enough to get an erection or to maintain it. High levels of stress can also affect the man in physiological ways, decreasing blood flow to the penis.

Also, fear of not being able to achieve an erection (performance anxiety) can cause an impotence problem. When a man thinks that he is not going to get a erection, his body may respond to this situation by moving blood away from his penis, thus making his erection go away.

Though stress is not considered to be major cause of ED, it is more of physical problem. Learning relaxation techniques, cognitive therapy and exercise are all ways to reduce stress. With a reduction of stress, erectile dysfunction will most often resolve itself on its own. By learning how to talk about sex, couples can reduce the amount of stress in the bedroom and concentrate on the act.

Get to Know The Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction

Wednesday, January 23rd, 2008

Erectile Dysfunction

Leading a healthy sexual life is an important part of one’s life like all other areas of life. Having a healthy sex life may help to enhance intimacy between partners and is a necessity or a fun activity most of the times. Erectile dysfunction or impotence is a condition, which is seen occurring among men at some point of time in their life. This dampens the sex life of men and puts not only their sex lives but all other aspects at risk.

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection long enough to have fulfilling intercourse and complete sexual activity is termed as erectile dysfunction or impotence. Millions of men all over the world suffer from impotence. But erectile dysfunction is seen to be more prevalent among men aged above 65.

How does Erectile Dysfunction occur?

The erection process:

  Sexual stimulation is a prerequisite for the achievement of erection. Corpora cavernosa are the two chambers, which a penis contains. These chambers are of the same length as that of the penis. These two chambers are surrounded by tunica albuginea, which is a membrane. Veins, arteries, fibrous tissues, smooth muscles and spaces all these make the spongy tissue.

Underneath corpora cavernosa, urethra is located, which is a way for urine and ejaculation. When a man is sexually stimulated, some signals from the brain through the nerves are sent, which relaxes the muscles of corpora cavernosa. This relaxation allows more blood, which fills up the open spaces and thereby create a pressure in the corpora cavernosa.

The penis expands because of the pressure in the corpora cavernosa. The tunica albuginea captures the blood in the corpora cavernosa, which sustains the erection.

Erection dysfunction:

  Erection dysfunction is said to occur when there is insufficient blood flow to the penis. Due to insufficient blood flow, the penis faces problems in achieving or maintaining the required erection, which is necessary to complete the intercourse during sexual activity.

What are the causes of Erectile Dysfunction?

There are a number of causes for erectile dysfunction or impotence. One of the leading factors for impotence may be age. Men having diabetes and high blood pressure are seen to have impotence. Apart from these, other causes are hardening of the arteries, alcohol and tobacco use, radiation therapy performed on testicles, fatigue, liver or kidney failure, Parkinson’s disease, hypogonadism, prostate problem or any bladder surgeries and brain or spinal cord injuries.

Can Erectile Dysfunction be treated?

Earlier there was no sure cure for erectile dysfunction. Even today, there is no permanent cure but now with biotechnology developing at a very fast pace, erectile dysfunction can be treated. Men can cope with erection problems with the help of timely and proper treatment.

With breakthrough medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, millions of men all over the world have helped themselves and their partner to lead a happy sex life. These medications are prescription medications and should be taken as advised by a medical practitioner.