Table of Contents:
- What is erectile dysfunction?
- What are the symptoms?
- What are the causes of erectile dysfunction?
- Can it be prevented?
- What is the treatment?
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is the difficulty or inability to achieve or maintain an erection of the penis that results in satisfactory sexual intercourse. It is also known as sexual impotence, although this term is no longer used in the medical field.
It affects many men and increases with age, but in order to be considered a disorder, it must manifest itself persistently.
There are several types of erectile dysfunction:
- Impotence coeundi: inability to maintain sexual intercourse.
- Impotencia erigerandi: inability to achieve penile erection.
- Impotencia generandi: inability to procreate even if penetration occurs.
- Psychic impotence: erection depends on mental problems.
What are the symptoms?
The main symptom of erectile dysfunction is a change in the quality of erection. If the cause is physical, there is usually an inability to have an erection when waking up in the morning. If it is caused by psychological causes, erectile dysfunction occurs over a specific period of time.
The main symptom of erectile dysfunction is a change in the quality of erection.
Causes of erectile dysfunction or why it occurs
The causes of erectile dysfunction can be either physical or psychological or a combination of both. They can be psychological, vascular, neurological, hormonal and pharmacological.
- Psychological causes: patients with depression, stress or anxiety, as well as problems in the couple.
- Vascular causes: it is very common and may be due to high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking or patients who have received radiotherapy treatment.
- Neurological causes: they occur when there is an injury to the nerves involved, for example with patients who have spinal cord injuries.
- Hormonal causes: these are rare. They are due to a lack of male sex hormones.
- Pharmacological causes: there are medications that can have as a side effect a decrease in the ability to have an erection.
Can it be prevented?
The main way to prevent erectile dysfunction is by modifying the lifestyle to avoid any possible habit that may have a negative impact on the arteries and veins.
What does the treatment consist of?
Treatment for erectile dysfunction usually includes, in addition to medication, lifestyle changes such as smoking cessation and regular exercise.
Psychological help is recommended for men under 40 years of age, as in these cases the cause of the disease is usually mental.