Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), which is also commonly referred to as impotence, is characterised by an inability to achieve and maintain an erection that is sufficient for sexual intercourse. The problem can be very distressing for men suffering from this condition, affecting their confidence, stopping them from enjoying a full sex life, and potentially harming their relationships.

ED has become a prevalent condition due to various factors. It is a common condition, with estimates suggesting that around half of men aged between 40 and 70 have it to some extent. It affects 8 out of 10 men at some point in their lives. Similarly, erectile dysfunction affects about 50% of men over the age of 40. In addition to this, it affects 70% of men over 70 years old.

Sexual arousal causes an erection. It stimulates the nitric oxide release from blood vessels and nerve terminals, increasing the blood flow in the erectile tissue. When the blood fills up in erectile tissues, the veins that drain this blood out of the penis collapse. It prevents blood from leaving the erectile tissue and keeps the penis erect.

ED can have a range of causes, both physical and psychological. The most common physiological triggers are health problems that result in a narrowing of the blood vessels that lead to the penis. Other physical risk factors include hormonal imbalances, injury and surgery. Psychological causes include low self-esteem, relationship difficulties and performance anxiety.

The physical factors of ED may include:

• Hypertension or high blood pressure levels
• Diabetes
• High cholesterol
• Chain smoking
• Increased alcohol intake
• Cycling for long periods
• Kidney disease
• Reduced blood flow
• Use of certain prescription medicines
• Recreational drugs

Mental factors of ED may include:

• Depression or mood swings
• Anxiety
• Stress

The primary symptoms of ED include:

• Trouble getting an erection
• Trouble keeping an erection
• Reduced sexual desire or low libido

If ED persists for more than a few weeks, it is important to book an appointment with a doctor. This is because erectile problems can be the first indication of more serious underlying medical issues, so one should not ignore them.

Typically, ED can be self-diagnosed. It can become obvious if you struggle to achieve or maintain a satisfactory erection. It is better to discuss it with your GP as erectile dysfunction can act as an indicator of underlying health conditions, such as heart disease or circulatory problems.

To get an accurate diagnosis, your doctor may ask some relatively personal questions about your sex life and symptoms of erectile dysfunction like:

• What is your sexual orientation?
• What was the nature of your previous relationship?
• What is the nature of your current sexual relationship?
• What are the levels of your sexual desire or libido?
• To what degree are you able to achieve an erection?
• Have you been able to ejaculate or orgasm?

In addition to this, you might get questions about the following:

• General physical health
• General mental health
• How often do you take alcohol or illegal drugs
• Medical history
• Everyday diet, exercise levels and lifestyle

Similarly, the doctor may perform a number of tests. These tests may include the following:

• A blood pressure test
• Measuring height, weight and waist
• A heart rate test
• A blood glucose and lipids test
• An ultrasound

The doctor may physically examine your penis. If you are over 50, the doctor may even perform a rectal exam. In some cases, the doctor takes a blood sample for analysis. This sample will help determine the exact hormone levels in the blood, which will help identify or rule out any hormonal conditions.

There is a wide range of medical treatments available for ED. Usually, the erectile dysfunction treatment is an assortment of prescription medication, lifestyle changes and managing any mental health conditions.

The primary oral erectile dysfunction medications are:

• Viagra 
• Cialis
• Levitra
• Spedra
• Sildenafil (Generic Viagra)
• Viagra Connect
• Tadalafil (Generic Cialis)
• Vardenafil (Generic Levitra)
• Avanafil (Generic Spedra)

Note that the effects of these medicines vary from person to person. Choosing the correct ED medicines depend on several factors, most importantly, your health and medical history. Additionally, personal preference plays a huge role in it, too.

ED treatments focus on addressing the cause of the problem, for example, tackling health problems such as diabetes or cardiovascular disease. Similarly, counselling sessions or cognitive behavioural therapy may help if the condition has a psychological trigger.

There is also a range of erectile dysfunction treatment drugs that can prove highly effective. Most of these contain PDE 5 inhibitors, which temporarily help in increasing blood flow to the penis.

The following are the alternatives for erectile dysfunction treatment:

Acupuncture: Acupuncture therapy can provide relief from ED in many men.

Talk Therapy: Sometimes, talk therapy can resolve unresolved feelings that were becoming the cause of these functions.

Ginseng: It is a herbal Viagra that improves sexual function in men.

Yohimbe: It is derived from the bark of a West African evergreen tree and can effectively treat side effects.

Erectile dysfunction can occur due to various factors. Many lifestyle factors contribute heavily to it. In fact, some even increase the risk of developing Erectile Dysfunction. So, make simple lifestyle changes to prevent or reduce the risk of developing erectile dysfunction. Try doing the following:

• Quit smoking
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Maintain a healthy diet
• Avoid too much alcohol
• Exercise regularly and be physically active
• Reduce stress
• Stay sexually active
• Sleep 8 hours a day

A few lifestyle changes can immensely impact your health. These can improve your physical and mental health while decreasing the chances of developing severe health conditions like diabetes or heart problems, which can cause erectile dysfunction. Similarly, being healthy will reduce the amount of medication that you take. The less medicine you take, the lower you are at risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction.

As with most conditions, there are common misconceptions associated with erectile dysfunction. Much stigma surrounds it, which breeds misinformation.

A person with ED is not aroused by their partner

This myth is of the notion that if a person needs to take ED treatment, it means that he is not sexually aroused by his partner. However, this is not the case. Even if you use erectile dysfunction medication, you can not achieve an erection if you are not adequately stimulated.

Erectile Dysfunction is when you can NEVER get an erection

A widespread misconception about erectile dysfunction stems from the belief that if a person does not have an erection problem all the time, it means they do not have erectile dysfunction. This is not true at all. In fact, you can suffer from many different symptoms, such as:

• You can not achieve an erection at all.
• You can achieve a mild erection, but it is not hard or firm enough for penetration.
• You can achieve an erection but cannot maintain it throughout sexual intercourse.

Erectile Dysfunction occurs in older men only

Although erectile dysfunction is a normal part of ageing, it is not something that only occurs in older men. In fact, it can occur at any age and even in younger men.

Taking Viagra will give you an erection until the effects of the medicine wear off

Viagra is not the primary cause of an erection. If you take Viagra, you will not immediately get an erection. Viagra, generic Viagra and other erectile dysfunction drugs open the veins allowing better blood circulation to the penis. Without the necessary arousal or sexual stimulation, you will be unable to maintain or achieve an erection.

Yes. Stress can increase the risk of erectile dysfunction. It is one of the mental factors of erectile dysfunction. Experts have stated that men of all ages are bound to experience erectile dysfunction in some shape or form caused by stress. However, this form of psychological erectile dysfunction is short-lived.

No, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction are not the same thing; erectile dysfunction occurs when a man struggles to keep or get an erection, whereas premature ejaculation is when a man ejaculates rapidly and sooner than one would like during sexual intercourse.

Yes, you can buy erectile dysfunction treatments online in UK. You will need a prescription from your local GP for erectile dysfunction treatment. You can also simply fill in the short online assessment at Click Pharmacy so our prescriber can prescribe the appropriate erectile dysfunction tablets for you. Once the prescription is issued, you can buy online ed treatments whenever required. The parcel is sent directly to your address quickly and in discreet packaging through Royal Mail 1st class or next day delivery service.