KissMeGoodnight
eLearning Series:
Your Sexual Health
Erectile
Dysfunction: Top 6 Causes
When
a man has difficulty maintaining an erection, this is known
as erectile dysfunction (impotence). In order
for a man to maintain an erection, the penis needs to fill
with blood and keep the blood in the penis during the erection.
This article will look at six causes of erectile dysfunction,
which include glucose levels, venous leak, neurovascular function,
testosterone, nocturnal erections, and psychology.
Glucose
levels: It appears that when the blood sugar level
drops in men, so does their penis. The lower a man’s blood
sugar is, the worse the symptoms of impotence. If the man receives
the proper treatment to treat the diabetes, he may also be
helping the erectile dysfunction.
Venous
Leak: If there is a leak in the blood vessels, this
will allow blood to escape. Blood flow is essential to maintaining
an erection. Your medical health care professional can help
you in finding out the cause of the dysfunction and discuss
options with you.
Neurovascular
Function: For an erection to be maintained,
the nerve signals have to be working correctly. If there is
a problem the penis will not receive the right signal regardless
of how hard a man tries to correct the problem. If this is
the cause, you may also find that the feeling in your penis
may be diminished. Several medications on the market can aid
in erectile dysfunction due to vascular or nerve problems.
Some other conditions associated with neurovascular dysfunction:
- Arteriosclerosis can reduce blood flow
- Diabetes can interfere with nerve signals
- Peripheral neuropathy spinal cord injury can damage nerves
- Psychological Factors can lead to erectile dysfunction
Testosterone: This is the male hormone and you will very rarely
find it lacking in men. However, if you are experiencing a
decrease in your sexual appetite this may be a contributing
factor.
Nocturnal
Erections: Men who are potent have spontaneous erections
during the night and you may or may not remember them.
Psychology: If you are experiencing a sexual dysfunction,
psychological factors may be a part of it to some degree. You
and possibly your partner may be given a questionnaire to help
determine what emotional and psychological factors may be contributing
to your condition.
Changes in lifestyle, medications, and possibly surgery could
be required to manage erectile dysfunction. The ultimate goal
of treatment is to restore your ability to maintain an erection.
Treatment may also include researching other options that may
be available to enhance your sexual experience.
Your nervous system, blood circulation, and your emotions
all communicate with one another to produce an erection. Men,
who are 65 years old and older, will experience an increase
in erectile dysfunction as one or more of the symptoms mentioned
do not function properly. If one or all of these functions
stop, you may experience the following symptoms: a less firm
penis, fewer erections, and decreased spontaneous nighttime
erections.
A man’s penis is made up of tubes that contain sturdy linings.
The linings are made to hold copious amounts of blood, which
creates ample pressure to sustain an erection for a certain
length of time. When the penis is stimulated and an erection
occurs, normally the blood vessels that empty your penis constrict
and this prevents the blood from leaving. The blood vessels
within your penis expand to receive more blood.
When you make the appointment to speak with your doctor about
erectile dysfunction, he or she will perform an exam. You will
also be asked to fill out a questionnaire explaining your symptoms
and medical history. Before your appointment, it would be wise
to make a list of all the medications you are taking, as you
will be asked for a comprehensive list of such medicines. Your
doctor will ask very specific questions about your erections
such as the number of erections you get, how long do they last,
how hard are they and so on. These questions may be uncomfortable
but are necessary so that the proper diagnosis is made.
You will then be given a physical exam, which will consist
of your penis, testes, and rectum. You may be asked to have
lab work done to rule out other possible causes. Once the exam
is complete, your doctor will discuss with you the findings
and options available. # # # # #
KissMeGoodnight.com
: 2006
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