Finding the cause of your ed will help direct your treatment options. Diagnosing ed starts with your health care provider asking questions about your heart and vascular health and your erection problem. Your provider may also give you a physical exam, order lab tests or refer you to a urologist. See more see less.

erectile dysfunction can be a warning sign of current or future heart disease sometimes. In fact, ed can precede coronary artery disease in almost 70 percent of cases. When you have heart disease, or coronary artery disease (blocked blood vessels), it will affect the tiny arteries in your penis sooner. Many times, we will refer you to a cardiologist to determine if you have cardiovascular disease that is causing your ed. Improving your heart health can help lower your risk for ed. You can start by: increasing physical activity,.

A physical exam checks your total health. Examination focusing on your genitals (penis and testicles) is often done to check for ed. Based on your age and risk factors, the exam may also focus on your heart and blood system: heart, peripheral pulses and blood pressure. Based on your age and family history your doctor may do a rectal exam to check the prostate. These tests are not painful. Most patients do not need a lot of testing before starting treatment.

Organic erectile dysfunction is difficulty achieving or sustaining an erection rigid enough for intercourse, due to physical causes. Heart disease, diabetes, depression, neurological issues, certain medications, and hormonal imbalances can result in organic erectile dysfunction.  psychogenic.

Emotional Causes of ED

Erectile dysfunction can cause strain on a couple. Many times, men will avoid sexual situations due to the emotional pain associated with ed, causing their partner to feel rejected or inadequate. It is important to communicate openly with your partner. Some couples consider seeking treatment for ed together, while other men prefer to seek treatment without their partner's knowledge. A lack of communication is the primary barrier for seeking treatment and can prolong the suffering. The loss of erectile capacity can have a profound effect on a man. The good news is that ed can usually be treated safely and effectively.

“most men who come in concerned with erectile dysfunction do have it,” dr. Newton says. He says there are three questions you can ask to help determine if you have erectile dysfunction. Do you have trouble getting an erection when desired? does the erection last long enough for satisfactory performance? is the erection too soft for penetration? if the answer is yes to any of these questions, it’s a great idea to talk to your doctor. “the number one question i get when talking about erectile dysfunction is, ‘is it common?’ most guys feel isolated and alone with this problem, in large part because despite the frequent commercials, most men don’t talk about it.

Decreased blood flow, typically because vessels that supply blood to the penis have narrowed, is often the cause of erectile dysfunction (ed) in older men. Emotional issues are more commonly at the root of it for younger men.

Complications of erectile dysfunction are predominantly emotional, both to the patient and his partner. It can cause a strain on relationships and negatively impact the quality of life of these patients. Of course, the cardiovascular pathologies and diabetic complications that may accompany this condition come with their own health issues. Priapism from pde-5 inhibitor medications is relatively uncommon at only about 3% of all priapism cases despite the widespread use of these drugs. Penile injection therapy is involved in about 8. 8% of priapism cases and trazodone in about 6%, while second-generation antipsychotic drugs are responsible for 33. 8%.

The type of medical specialist who treats ed will depend on the cause of the problem. Based on your family's medical history, as well as your own medical history and current health, your doctor may treat you with oral medications (viagra®, levitra®, cialis®). If these options fail, you may be referred to a urologist who can assist with other non-surgical options such as vacuum device or injections or surgical treatment options. If needed, your doctor may also refer you to a psychologist specializing in sexual dysfunction.

Validated questionnaires quantify ed severity and the consequences of ed (e. G. , bother, sexual satisfaction, relationship impact). These instruments, or incorporation of their content as part of history and follow-up interviews, are useful to measure treatment effectiveness and to adjust management plans based on outcomes over time. They can be used to quantify unassisted erectile function compared to erectile function with treatment or across treatments (e. G. , at a different medication doses). Questionnaires also can provide an opportunity to initiate a conversation about ed when sexual concerns are not the presenting issue. Note that questionnaires will not generate a valid score for the man who is not sexually active.

Men presenting with erectile dysfunction are initially assessed with a comprehensive history ( box 1 ). This helps the clinician to understand and differentiate the causes as predisposing (why this person?), precipitating (why now?) and perpetuating (what is keeping the problem?) factors. The history includes lifestyle (quality and quantity of sleep, snoring and sleep apnoea, weight, exercise, alcohol, smoking history), general health (physical and mental, medicines) and a relationship and psychosexual history. 4 , 5 box 2 shows some key questions to ask. Eliciting details about the quality of morning erections and erectile capacity during other sexual activities (e.

Initially, you'll talk to your health care provider or a urologist about penile implants. During your visit, your health care provider will likely: review your medical history. Be prepared to answer questions about current and past medical conditions, especially your experience with ed. Talk about medications you take or have taken recently, as well as any surgeries you've had. Before penile implant surgery you might also need to: avoid certain medications. Your health care provider might recommend that you temporarily stop taking aspirin and anti-inflammatory drugs, which can increase your risk of bleeding. Arrange for a ride home. Ask your health care provider when you'll be able to go home after surgery.