Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist). This article has been written according to strict guidelines and medical standards.
Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist)
Performance issues in the bedroom can be related to many factors; one that affects almost 1 in 4 men is erectile dysfunction. Here is some essential information on the condition and treatments.
Clinically referred to as erectile dysfunction (ED), impotence is the inability to get or maintain an erection, usually to engage in sexual intercourse. Impotence can happen to any man at almost any stage of their life. It is more common for men over the age of 75, but not exclusively. There are many causes of ED, from health, lifestyle, physiological, or biological reasons.
The Technical Explanation of Erectile Dysfunction
Even though there are many causes of ED, the physical issue of what happens in the body can be explained by science. An erection is created when the arteries that carry blood to the penis widen, allowing more to flow in. At the same time, blood vessels that remove the blood tighten, restricting the flow out. The results in a hard penis.
During sexual stimulation, the body produces nitric oxide in the penis. This activates an enzyme called guanylate cyclase, which produces cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This protein is what directs the amount of blood to and from the penis.
In some people another enzyme called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), attacks cGMP, preventing it from working. The result is that little to no blood flows to the penis, disabling the ability to get an erection.
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The Causes of Impotence (ED)
There are numerous causes of impotence. They all tend to be related to the bloodstream. Failure of blood to get to the penis to allow it to create an erection is what causes impotence. Some causes can be reduced or eliminated, so lifestyle choices are the first things to consider. They include:
- Tobacco use - long term smoking can restrict blood flow to the veins, a key factor for little to no blood getting to the penis.
- Psychological issues - depression, stress, or anxiety can cause many things in your body to underperform, including getting an erection.
- Obesity - being overweight to this extent puts an extra burden on the body, many bodily functions are affected.
- Alcohol and drug use - excessive alcohol drinking and recreational drugs play havoc on the bloodstream, causing all kinds of problems.
Then there are the medical issues:
- Diabetes - type-2 diabetes can damage blood vessels
- Heart condition - as the heart controls the pumping of blood, any serious condition could be a cause of ED
- Previous injuries - anything that has caused damage to the arteries or bloodstream
- Medications - high blood pressure, antihistamines, and antidepressants can all have an adverse reaction to how blood flows in the body
Is Alcohol a Cause of Impotence?
Alcohol is a contributor to impotence in two ways, physically and mentally. Physically, heavy drinking can cause decreased blood volume, and long-term alcohol abuse can cause damage to the nervous system. This affects many body processes, including the ability to get an erection.
Mentally, drinking is a mood changer, mostly in a negative way. A foul mood causes dampened desire, unhappy thoughts, and aggression, which can all lead to impotence.
Can Antihypertensives Cause Impotence?
Antihypertensive medicine such as beta-blockers, thiazide diuretics, and loop diuretics all can decrease blood flow in the body. Without blood being able to flow around the body freely, this makes getting an erection difficult. The danger of these medications and ED medications mixed together is the thinning of the blood, which can lead to heart attacks or stroke.
There are other blood pressure medications; however, which don’t have the same issue, these include ACE inhibitors, alpha-blockers, and angiotensin-receptor blockers.
The Symptoms and Signs of Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is easy to spot. The initial signs are not being able to get an erection. This is further complicated by getting an erection but being unable to keep it. The challenge here is that it’s hard but not enough to allow for penetrative sex.
Other signs that can be related to ED are the loss of libido and problems ejaculating, such as premature ejaculation, or minimal amounts of ejaculate and a feeling of dissatisfaction.
What to Do If You Have Impotence (ED)
The first thing to do if you feel like you have impotence is not to panic. As psychological issues can cause it, they can also exacerbate it.
For example, if you are stressed and anxious, this could cause temporary impotence. If you then stress about being impotent, this makes the problem much worse.
Talk to a doctor, and do some online research. There are options available to help sort this issue out. Generally, it’s not curable, but it is treatable.
Our tip: How to buy ED treatments with online prescription
How Can Women Help Men With Impotence?
There are two ways that women can help their partner if he starts to show signs of ED. Both methods are about support but provided differently.
Firstly, don’t judge or belittle. For a man, not being able to get an erection is about the most traumatic experience he will ever have. If his partner gets impatient or angry, teases, or jokes about it, it will make him feel even worse. As much as it may be frustrating, try to offer understanding and support, let him know that it’s ok and that you believe it is only a temporary situation. This will go a long way in helping him relax, and it may even alleviate part of the problem.
The second way women can support them is when they are actively using ED medication. These medications don’t create ‘instant erections’. They begin to work as the man is involved in sexually stimulating activities. Assisting him here will help the medicine kick-in, and the result will be satisfying for everyone.
What Helps Against Erectile Dysfunction?
Identifying the underlying factors that are causing ED can go a long way to solving the problem. If the main issue is stress or anxiety, trying to reduce or eliminate this problem, if possible, could be enough. If measures are taken to minimize this, straight away, the man may see some positive changes in his ability to get an erection.
Can Impotence (ED) Be Treated?
Absolutely, impotence can be treated. If the above actions don’t work, there is medication available to address the physical problem. These medications are known as PDE5-inhibitors. What they do is that they attack the PDE5 enzyme, which is blocking the cGMP from doing its work. Once the cGMP is allowed to activate, blood flow is reopened and an erection forms.
These medications have been around for over 30 years, and there are loads of scientific studies about their effectiveness. These PDE5-inhibitors are well-known medicines, Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and Stendra. They are prescription-only medications, and a doctor’s visit is required to get them.
Impotence from Diabetes - Can it Be Cured?
Men with type-2 diabetes run a higher risk of developing ED than men without it. Around 25% of men are predicted to suffer from impotence in their life. This figure increases to 35% – 75% for diabetics.
It is believed that poor long-term blood sugar control can cause damage to nerves and blood vessels in the body. This is one of the main contributors to erectile dysfunction. PDE5-inhibitors can also assist with the treatment of ED related to diabetes. Once again, this medication is for temporary assistance and is not an overall cure.
Can Doctors Help With Erectile Dysfunction?
A discussion with a doctor is vital before deciding whether ED medication is right for you. These pills are prescription-only as they have side effects and contraindications that could be harmful or deadly if taken by the wrong person.
A medical professional can explain what the medication does and how it affects the body. People who take nitric or heart medications, may not be suitable for this as they all thin the blood. This could result in a heart attack or stroke.
As the problem may be related to physical or mental issues, the doctor is also trained to go deeper than just to prescribe pills. They can also get to the root of the problem, to see if this too can be treated.
How to Buy Impotence (ED) Medication Online
For many men, talking about impotence is a very sensitive subject. It can be tough to have this talk with the family GP they’ve seen for years. This is where online pharmacies can assist. These websites will still only provide these medications with a prescription. They have inhouse doctors available to generate this for you.
Why Go Online?
Apart from feeling uncomfortable with this discussion, a visit to a GP can be time-consuming. You need to travel there and wait in a crowded room, putting yourself at risk of catching something. Often clinic hours are only during business hours, meaning time off work.
Contacting an online doctor can be done from the comfort of your home, even after hours, making it more convenient for you. Most have extended hours, giving you more scope for meeting with a medical professional.
Step-by-Step Process
It’s a relatively straightforward process and can be finalized within a day.
Step 1 – Identify that the online pharmacy is reputable and legally recognized to provide prescription medication. You can do this by checking if they are listed on the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) website.
Step 2 – Once you are comfortable that you are using a legitimate site, you’ll need to complete an online application. Be as upfront and honest as possible about your medical history, current medications, and any pre-existing conditions. Failing to disclose information could result in you experiencing side effects that you aren’t aware could affect you.
Step 3 – The doctor will assess your application and make contact with you to discuss it further and ask more questions. Some states of the USA require this contact to be in the form of a video call.
Step 4 – Once approved, the medical professional will then generate a prescription for you. There are 2 ways for you to receive the medication. They will have a partner pharmacy that can dispense the drugs at the same time as the consultation, ensuring a swift delivery. Alternatively, you can have the prescription forwarded to a pharmacy of your choice for you to collect yourself.
Impotence (erectile dysfunction) does not need to affect your life. If you start to see symptoms, get in touch with a doctor, and see if PDE5-inhibitors are the right solution for you.
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Article Sources
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