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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.

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by KissMeGoodnight.com : 2006

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