Sexual arousal in men is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. Because of these complexities, ED can be caused by problems in any of these areas. ED can be caused by physical and psychological issues or a combination of both.
Some medical conditions can cause ED by reducing blood flow into the penis or when the penis can not trap blood during an erection. The most common physical causes of ED include:
The brain plays a vital role in causing the physical events that lead to an erection. Many psychological and emotional factors can interfere with sexual desires causing or worsening ED. These could include:
ED is often a symptom of an underlying health problem. Symptoms could include:
A doctor can diagnose ED after reviewing your medical and sexual history, a mental health exam, and sometimes a physical exam is necessary. Some men may find it hard to talk with their doctor about ED, but keep in mind that your doctor is trained to talk about and treat these issues, and the more your doctor knows about you and your health history, the better he/she can treat your condition. Your doctor may also need to order lab or imaging tests to look for underlying health conditions that could be causing your ED.
Common questions your doctor may ask include:
This information will help your doctor better understand your ED and can help your doctor diagnose problems with sexual desire, erection, climax, or ejaculation. Some of these questions also address any psychological or emotional issues that may be causing your ED.
Some men affected with ED may require specialized testing that could include:
There are various treatment options for ED, including ED pills, creams, and wipes, and even gummies. The treatment that is right for you will depend on the cause and severity of your ED and any underlying health conditions you may have. It is important to work with a health care professional to choose the ED treatment that is best for you; it may be helpful to talk with your partner about which treatment is best for you as a couple as well. ED treatment options could include lifestyle changes, medications, testosterone therapy, injections, erection devices, implants, or surgery.
Your doctor may recommend any of the following lifestyle changes to help improve your ED. If you have trouble making these changes on your own, seek help from your doctor.
There are four oral medications (including ED pills) approved by the FDA for the treatment of ED; these medications are known as PDE type-5 inhibitors and work to increase penile blood flow. These ED pills are taken by mouth and will help you to get and maintain an erection.
These medications all work by relaxing muscles in the penis and increasing blood flow in the penis during sexual stimulation allowing you to get an erection. Taking this medication will not automatically produce an erection; sexual stimulation is required first to work. These medications come in varying dosages, so it may take time to find the right medication and dose right. These medications do come with possible side effects, including:
If the cause of your ED is related to low blood levels of testosterone, and you are experiencing low sex drive, testosterone therapy may help fix normal erections. Testosterone therapy may also work well combined with PDE type 5 inhibitors. Possible common side effects of testosterone treatment could include a high red blood cell count and problems urinating.
If ED pills do not treat your ED, the ED drug Alprostadil is an approved injectable or suppository drug to treat ED.
When injected into the penis, Alprostadil works to cause it to become filled with blood, causing an erection. It may be beneficial to have your first injection done at the doctor’s office before doing this independently. Self-injection lessons will be given at your doctor’s office so you can learn to do this from the comfort of your own home. Each injection is dosed to create an erection to last no longer than an hour. Side effects could include mild bleeding from the injection, prolonged erection, and very rarely fibrous tissue formation at the injection site.
Alprostadil also comes in the form of a suppository, and this treatment is called Alprostadil intraurethral therapy. This method involves placing a small alprostadil suppository inside your penile urethra. To insert, you use a special applicator. The erection typically starters within 10 minutes of insertion and may last 30 minutes to an hour. Side effects of this method could include a burning feeling in the penis, minor bleeding in the urethra, and fibrous tissue formation inside your penis.
If medications do not successfully treat your ED, your doctor may recommend a vacuum erection device. This device is made of a plastic tube that slides over the penis and makes a seal with the body's skin. There is a pump at the other end of the tube, creating a low-pressure vacuum around the penis. The pump sucks out the air inside the tube, creating a vacuum that pulls blood into your penis and causes an erection. Once an erection is attained, an elastic ring is then slipped onto the base of the penis to hold the blood in the penis to maintain the erection. The erection typically lasts for up to 30 minutes, and the ring should be removed after sexual intercourse. Possible side effects of this device are bruising and restricted ejaculation.
If your ED is severe and other treatment methods have failed, your doctor may recommend surgery. This treatment involves surgically placing devices into both sides of the penis. These implants are either inflatable or bendable rods. The semi-rigid/bendable implants are made from two easy to bend rods made of silicone to give the penis firmness required for sexual penetration. Two fluid-filled cylinders are placed in the penis and tubing for the inflatable implant. It joins these cylinders to a pump placed inside the scrotum. When the pump is engaged, the cylinders inflate, making the penis stiff, creating an erection. As these implants do require surgery, there are risks of complications like infection.
If psychological or emotional issues cause your ED, your doctor may recommend seeing a counselor or online therapist. A counselor can help teach you coping strategies for anxiety and stress. Your counselor may also recommend that you bring your partner along to a session so your partner can better support you.
Whether the cause of your ED is physical, psychological, or a combination of both, erectile dysfunction can be the cause of mental and emotional stress for you and/or your partner. It is important to seek help from a health care professional before your ED starts to affect your life, health, and relationship drastically. With the use of telemedicine technology, you can receive convenient, discreet, and affordable ED treatment, all from the comfort of your own home. There are many digital companies where you can complete an online doctor's consultation, and they can even ship your treatment in discreet packaging directly to your home, saving you a trip to your pharmacy. Check out our top list of digital clinics to start receiving treatment for your ED today.