Erectile Dysfunction
Over 1 million men in Australia have some sort of erectile dysfunction; and an astonishing 25% have reported experiencing erectile dysfunction at one time or another. More troubling, one in five of these men won’t seek treatment, even after a year. There is no need to settle for the symptoms of erectile dysfunction. With a variety of options, most men can find a solution that leads to the return of a satisfying and enjoyable sex life..
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
It’s no surprise that the incidence of erectile dysfunction increases with age. The most common cause of erectile dysfunction is a loss of blood flow as a result of the narrowing of the arteries in the penis due to build-up of fatty plaques. This is called atherosclerososis.
It can be caused by:
- Cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Obesity
Despite what you may think, low testosterone is not usually a cause of erectile dysfunction. However, testosterone levels should be checked since extremely low testosterone levels can lead to low libido with erectile dysfunction. More importantly, low testosterone levels might prevent erectile dysfunction tablets such as Viagra from giving the desired results and can cause other symptoms as well.
Erectile Dysfunction Screening
When you man up and see the doctor about erectile dysfunction, he will want to run some screening tests. These tests screen for cardiovascular conditions that could lead to atherosclerososis and other conditions that affect blood flow. The good news is that underlying reasons can be identified and treated so that further cardiovascular problems can be kept at bay. The screening tests may include:
- Blood pressure
- Fasting lipids and glucose
- Testosterone
- Routine biochemistry (such as CBC, urine analysis, liver function, etc)
In addition, the doctor will want to know about any prescription medications or supplements you are taking.
Erectile Dysfunction Treatments
Oral Tablets
. The “Big 3” erectile dysfunction tablets are Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. Viagra is now also sold in the generic version, Sildenafil & the price has plummeted down. These medications work in about 60 to 75% of all cases.
Caverject. When oral tablets don’t give the desired results, the next recommended treatment may be Caverject. The Caverject is an injection that you administer to yourself to bring about an erection after about 10 to 15 minutes. It contains the active ingredient Alprostadil, which is found in the body in the form of prostaglandin. The injection is directly into the penis, however the needle used is ultra-fine and the results are often amazing.
Testosterone Therapy. Low levels of testosterone may lead to a decrease in sexual libido. On the whole, testosterone therapy is not recommended when levels are only a little low, particularly in guys who are obese or older. However, testosterone replacement for very low levels is likely to improve libido and possibly erectile dysfunction.
The Erectile dysfunction tablets are prescribed by any GP or specialist, whilst the Caverject and/or testosterone replacement may be offered in a specialist setting or men’s health GP / men’s health clinic.
Penile Implants. When tablets and injections don’t bring the desired results, you may consider surgery for a penile implant. A urologist trained in prosthetic urology can perform this procedure. The implant is concealed in the body and is not visible to you or your partner. A pump in the scrotum is used to transfer fluid from a reservoir in the abdomen to the corpora cavernosa in the shaft of the penis. When it is time to “deflate” the pump reverses the action.
There is no need to live with erectile dysfunction. With the many methods of treatment available, one is right for you. Just as important, by identifying the underlying causes of erectile dysfunction you just might be stopping cardiovascular problems before they occur.
Dr Richard Beatty
BM MRCP(UK) FRACGP