Erectile dysfunction affects the lives of many middle aged men and
their partners to one degree or another.  Erectile dysfunction covers
a number of disorders, but typically refers to the inability to obtain
an adequate erection for satisfactory sexual activity.  If a sexual
problem strikes a relationship it is completely normal to feel
conflicted.  Either partner may experience insecurity, doubt,
embarrassment, stress, guilt, tension, or other negative emotions.
Both partners in a relationship feel the effects, not just the man.
The importance of open communication cannot be stressed enough to help
aid in successful impotence treatment.  By addressing personal
problems with your partner you will be taking the first step towards
better sexual health.

Partners of erectile dysfunction patience may begin to silently doubt
themselves, feeling responsible for their partner’s lack of ability to
physically arouse their partners and may feel that their husbands no
longer find them attractive.  When both partners in a relationship do
not feel able to discuss their sexual problems, the relationship will
inevitably contaminate their sexual health with fears and doubts.
There are also cases in which a woman will feel that their husbands’
erection problems are normal and part of the natural male aging
process.  This is evident when a man exhibits additional conditions
associated with impotence.  Many women choose to not say anything
about the man’s sexual inadequacies so as to not emasculate them. The
lack of intimacy allows a male patient to continue to ignore his own
sexual problem and needed erection help.  However, if a couple avoids
their sexual disorders it may cause both parties to grow more distant.
There is nothing normal about losing a man’s ability to achieve or
maintain an erection.  Help is available in most cases.

Regardless of age, erectile dysfunction can take a toll on a man and
his sexual partner.  More so it affects their relationship as the man
may be embarrassed, anxious, and depressed.  Insecurities may be
developed about their masculinity.  A common issue among couples
dealing with erectile dysfunction begins with failures of sexual
advances.  This may affect trust, intimacy, and closeness.  Many men
this it is inappropriate to need to be nurtured and may feel
humiliation with not being able to complete the act of sex.  These
events can cause the couple to alienate themselves both emotionally
and physically.

When a man or woman loses a loving sexual relationship due to erectile
dysfunction they may choose to withhold their partner from any other
type of sexual experience.  Sometimes potency problems are a cover for
more serious emotional or relationship issues and those issues may
need to take priority before focusing on the erectile dysfunction
issues.  Couples can benefit by opening the lines of communication
about sex and learning how best to utilize their capabilities to
communicate.  Counseling may be the best tool to rekindle the romance
and redirect energies within the relationship.  Seeing a physician to
discuss treatment options regarding erectile dysfunction may also be
quite beneficial.  A man may find this emasculating, but discussing it
with an objective party may help to assist both the man and the woman.

Erectile dysfunction, a common medical condition which affects
hundreds of thousands of men in the United States, is fast becoming a
topic that is no longer under constant scrutiny and ridicule.  Viagra,
approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), in 1998 has helped
men diagnosed with erectile dysfunction in the United States and has
opened the doors to several new drugs prescribed for this condition.
In addition to Viagra, the option to take Levitra or Cialis offers
more relief for men suffering from erectile dysfunction.  Studies have
shown that Levitra may work faster than Viagra, up to 25-30 minutes
faster as compared to an hour for a dose of Viagra to begin working.
Cialis stays active in the body for much longer than Viagra or
Levitra, up to 24-36 hours.

The basic premise of how the different medications treat erectile
dysfunction is that they all work by relaxing the smooth muscle cells
which widens the blood vessels.  None of the drugs indicated here
automatically produce an erection, but they do make an erection
possible with sexual arousal.  Erectile dysfunction medication blocks
an enzyme called phosphodiesterase-5 which helps the smooth muscles in
the penis to relax.  This effectively increases blood flow, which
allows an erection.  The drugs typically used to treat erectile
dysfunction has been proven to be safe, however there are several
reported cases of recreational use of these drugs.  Recreational use
of erectile dysfunction medications is associated with higher risks of
sexually transmitted diseases (STD’s), which includes HIV.

Erectile dysfunction is the consistent or recurrent inability of a man
to attain or maintain a penile erection that is sufficient for sexual
performance.  As erectile dysfunction is an extremely private matter,
the topic is fast becoming less taboo and is talked about more often
now than ever.  It is estimated that erectile dysfunction affects more
than one half of all men over the age of 40, yet despite the high
numbers, 9 out of 10 men in the United States have not yet sought
treatment from a physician.  Erectile dysfunction has been found to be
three times more prevalent among men diagnosed with diabetes than in
the general population.  The onset of erectile dysfunction is found in
half of men with diabetes within ten years of their diagnoses and it
can occur in 9% of men with diabetes between the ages of 20 and 29 and
rises to 95% by the age of 70.

The three drugs discussed in this article are all chemically similar
and have similar side effects.  The most noticeable difference is that
men using Viagra are more likely to experience temporary difficulties
with color vision.  Viagra taken with food can also decrease its
effectiveness by 29%, yet food causes little if any effect on Levitra
or Cialis.  With more and more drugs entering the market, it’s
becoming more difficult to determine which medication will be most
beneficial for you.  Contact your physician for further information
and to determine which drug is right for you.

Studies have shown that a vegetarian regimen along with a moderate
exercise program may be beneficial for men suffering from erectile
dysfunction (ED), when the cause of the ED is atherosclerosis.
Atheroscleros is an accumulation of plaque in the arteries. This
plaque can result from high levels of cholesterol from the foods we
eat that “stick” to the interior walls of blood vessels. This plaque
hardens and obstructs blood flow. A diet that is high in meat and
dairy products can contribute to high levels of cholesterol

Vegetarians, on average have lower levels of cholesterol than their
meat-eating counterparts. Vegans (those who also eat no dairy or eggs)
have on average the lowest cholesterol levels.

Research, which was conducted at the University of California, in San
Francisco, proved that a low-fat vegetarian diet can improve blood
flow through arteries. Men when faced with the future choice of having
surgery or being put on powerful cholesterol lowering medicines often
choose to change their diet instead.

A diet shown to lower cholesterol includes at least 3 servings of
fruit each day, 2 or more servings of legumes (beans, peas, lentils) a
day, at least 5 servings of whole grains including bread, rice,
tortillas, pasta, cereal, corn, and oatmeal. The diet also includes
vegetables (at least 4 servings), and to eliminate meat and daily or
at least to cut back on the consumption of these items.

John Hopkins University epidemiologist, Elizabeth Slavin, says that
“staying active, moving more and eating less, and staying healthy, in
addition to being good for your cardiovascular health may also be good
for your sexual health”. An epidemiologist is someone who studies the
frequency and distribution of diseases within the human population and
environment of the world. They measure the occurrence of disease and
then relate it to different characteristics of the population and the
environments they live in. An epidemiologist is therefore uniquely
qualified to comment on any connection between diet and exercise and
the occurrence of a disease or condition.

She found in an early 2007 study, that 18% of American men over age 20
(18 million men) had erectile dysfunction. She found the condition to
be linked to a sedentary lifestyle, and also a poor diet. Most
diseases and conditions improve when we take care of our bodies by
eating good nutritious foods and exercising safely and in moderation.

Even busy men can add a walk a day to their daily routines. Get out
and take a walk at lunch time or at least take the stairs instead of
the elevator.

The lack of physical activity can lead to 20 to 40% muscle loss which
would affect your ability to walk, get up and down from chairs, the
bed and may slow down your ability to be active in bed.

Exercise does your body and mind good and can put you in a better mood
too; yet 59% of Americans do not get enough exercise.

Exercise gives your muscles strength needed for many of the daily
activities we do including the ability to perform sexually.

The diagnosis of erectile dysfunction (ED) comes from a medical doctor
or a specialist in the field of urology. The diagnosis is made after
clues are gathered from a medical history and questionnaire concerning
sexual function, a complete physical examination and laboratory
testing. An evaluation will also be done to access any medications
that you are taking by eliminating or replacing them one by one to see
if there is any improvement in the ED.

Specialized tests may help in making the diagnosis and may include
ultrasonography of the genital region. Usually the doctor will order
that an injection of medication be given and the ultrasound performed
both before and after the injection to see if there is any change in
the blood flow patterns.

As part of the diagnostic process, a neurological evaluation will be
done on the male to determine the penile vascular pressure. This
involves injecting a dye into the blood vessels which the doctor can
then view any possible abnormalities in the flow of blood to the
penis.

To determine if nonphysical factors are involved the doctor may ask
you about the occurrence of erections during masterbation, when you
are with a partner and also while you are sleeping. Usually men are
not aware of the erections during sleep, so a test can be performed
that will record the presence of these nocturnal erections. If
nocturnal erections are occuring than it is likely that the ED is
caused by nonphysical factors. This then, is an important test to take
in determining the risk factors and thus the cause of the ED.

Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction:

There are many treatment options available for men. The doctor or
specialist treating the man will offer the least invasive treatment
options first before graduating to the more invasive ones.

Treatment options include medications, mechanical devices, surgery and
psychological counseling. Both the cause and the severity of your ED
will be taken into consideration when designing the treatment plan.
You will be able to have input during this planning phase and your
input will be needed regarding the progress that is made during
treatment as well.

Insurance plans may cover the cost of treatment if the cause of your
erectile dysfunction is a medical one.

Medications:

The oral medications used to treat ED are: Sildenafil (Viagra),
Tadalafil (Cialis) and Vardenafil (Levitra). Viagra was the first pill
for ED and was approved in 1998 by the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA). Viagra is perhaps the most commercially advertised drug for ED.
These drugs must not be taken by men who are also on nitroglycerin for
heart problems as it can cause a drastic drop in blood pressure. These
three medications although similar vary in dosage, duration of
effectiveness and also for possible side effects. There are currently
no studies comparing these three medications with each other.

There is a needle-injection therapy, a self-administered intraurethral
therapy, hormonal replacement therapy, vacuum devices that can be
used, vascular surgery and penile implants.

Psychological counseling may also be beneficial for both physical and
nonphysical causes for ED. Psychological counseling may also benefit
the sexual partner as well.