ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

ERECTILE DISORDERS

 

A pathology with multiple psychological and relational implications, male impotence is a real disease whose mechanisms are better and better known, and for which treatments are currently available.

 

Expression

 

Impotence is by definition the inability to maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Be careful, do not confuse erection with ejaculation and orgasm, which are three well-defined elements that can be found during the sexual act. Impotence is about erection. At rest, we say that the penis is "flaccid". Flaccidity is therefore not impotence.

 

Functioning

 

The penis is made up of erectile bodies, the corpora cavernosa, located on the sides. These erectile bodies function much like sponges which fill themselves with blood under the control of nerve stimulation. Multiple small sphincters are arranged around the blood vessels of the erectile bodies, causing these vessels to open or close, allowing the cavernous bodies to increase in size or to empty. However, this erectile function cannot be controlled, it is a neurological reflex independent of the will, influenced by hormonal and psychological phenomena. As proof, the existence of erections occurring in the morning on waking without any sexual stimulation taking place.

 

Causes of erectile dysfunction

 

Given the complexity of the mechanisms responsible for erection, one can easily imagine the multiplicity of possible causes. In the first place, we must distinguish two main types of impotence: impotence of psychological origin and impotence of organic origin.

The most frequent psychological factors are depressive episodes, loss of self-confidence and relationship problems with the partner. To highlight a psychological cause, ie the absence of an organic cause, a recording of nocturnal erections is performed, which normally occur during the phases of paradoxical sleep and are not influenced by psychological factors. If the existence of these erections is demonstrated in the patient, it is indeed a psychological cause.

The patient can then be referred to a specialist consultation in psychology or psychiatry.

Otherwise, or when the pathological condition is obvious, we turn to an organic cause.

However, most often psychological and organic reasons are associated.

Note: it is sometimes enough to take a drug against erectile dysfunction once or twice (such as Viagra®, Cialis® or Levitra®) to regain self-confidence and thus regain a good erection.

The organic causes of impotence are multiple and the impotence assessment will depend on the clinical orientation towards one or the other of these causes:

  • hormonal, it is a deficit in the secretion of male hormones (androgens) or an excess of pituitary hormone (prolactin);
  • diabetes which is the most common cause of organic impotence. It can cause vascular and neurological deterioration, dysfunction of the cavernous bodies, a decrease in the general condition. Diabetes can also be involved through anti-diabetic drugs or associated psychological problems;
  • progressive general diseases (heart attack, cancer, etc.);
  • the drug causes are very numerous (consult the leaflet of your medication). Usually, the reappearance of erections after stopping the offending drug (on doctor's recommendation) is proof of this.
  • surgical causes: certain surgical procedures can cause erectile dysfunction mainly through nerve damage (cancer of the rectum, bladder, prostate, etc.);
  • neuropathies, by attacking one of the levels of the nervous axis allowing erection, from the spinal cord to the penis;
  • arterial causes, by decreased blood flow to the penis and cavernous bodies. This cause is not rare considering the frequency in our country of cardiovascular diseases (arteritis ...). This is how tobacco can be a source of organic impotence;
  • alcoholism is a bit special because it involves "toxic" phenomena and psychological phenomena.

 

The solutions

 

Basically, common sense implies that we treat the organic or psychological cause suspected of causing erectile dysfunction, but there are also solutions that directly promote erection apart from penile prostheses ensuring the necessary rigidity but remaining reserved for serious cases and when the patient is requesting.

Most of these treatments act on the vascular phenomena of the erection (filling of the erectile bodies).

Direct injection into a cavernous body of prostaglandin E1 is effective in all types of erection and consistently. The disadvantage is that this technique is aggressive and that it can cause, in the event of a dosage error, too prolonged erections (priapism) which can lead to lesions of the penis.

Another injection system, the Muse system, involves injecting prostaglandin directly into the urethra through a catheter. Still in the treatments having a direct local action, we can point out the mechanical vacuum pump system which allows, once the erection is obtained, to maintain it using an elastic band placed at the base of the penis.

As for the drugs Viagra®, Cialis® and Levitra®, they are very effective. Some are taken several hours before the sexual act. They do not present any danger to the heart, as long as the doctor has made sure that the patient is not undergoing treatment with a nitro derivative.

 

Erec the solution for men

 

Erec Improves libido and promotes good erection and restores the erectile system.