How can you get erectile dysfunction

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Is a common pain reliever safe during pregnancy? Can vaping help you quit smoking? Men's Health 5 natural ways to overcome erectile dysfunction July 7, Print This Page Click to Print. Men's Health. ED can occur because of problems at any stage of the erection process. An erection is the result of increased blood flow into your penis.

Blood flow is usually stimulated by either sexual thoughts or direct contact with your penis. When a man is sexually excited , muscles in the penis relax. This allows for increased blood flow through the penile arteries, filling two chambers inside the penis. As the chambers fill with blood, the penis grows rigid. An erection ends when the muscles contract and the accumulated blood can flow out through the penile veins.

There are many possible causes of ED, and they can include both emotional and physical conditions. Common causes include:. ED can be caused by only one of these factors or by several of them. Learn more about the causes of ED. Treatment for ED will depend on the underlying cause. You may need to use a combination of treatments, including medication or talk therapy.

Find Roman ED medication online. Your doctor may prescribe medication to help you manage the symptoms of ED. You may need to try several medications before you find one that works. The following oral medications stimulate blood flow to your penis to help treat ED:. It can be administered in two ways: as a penile suppository or as a self-injection at the base or side of the penis.

Testosterone therapy TRT may also be recommended if you have low levels of testosterone. Medications used for other conditions may cause ED. Talk to your doctor about your medications and whether they could be causing your symptoms.

There may be others that you can take instead. Never stop taking medications without first talking to your doctor. Medications for ED can cause side effects. They may be able to recommend a different medication. Get more information on the medications used to treat ED.

Over several sessions, you and your therapist will discuss:. If ED is affecting your relationship , consider speaking with a relationship counselor as well. Relationship counseling can help you and you partner reconnect emotionally, which may also help your ED.

Explore the effects of stress and anxiety on ED. This treatment uses the creation of a vacuum to stimulate an erection. Blood is drawn into the penis as the device is used, leading to an erection. The elastic ring functions to maintain the erection, holding the blood in the penis and preventing it from returning to circulation.

It can be left in place for 30 minutes. Read more about vacuum pumps and how to use them. They can help determine whether your symptoms are caused by an underlying condition that requires treatment. Testing for ED can involve a variety of steps, including a physical examination and taking your health and sexual history. Additional tests may be performed to determine if your symptoms are caused by an underlying condition.

You should expect a physical exam where your doctor will listen to your heart and lungs, check your blood pressure , and examine your testicles and penis. They may also recommend a rectal exam to check your prostate.

Your doctor will ask you questions or request that you fill out a questionnaire about your symptoms, health history, and sexual history. The responses can help them evaluate the severity of your ED. These tests can help your doctor guide your treatment as well as determine if an underlying condition may be causing your ED.

Find out more about how blood tests can be used to diagnose ED. Kegel exercises are simple movements you can do to strengthen your pelvic floor muscles.

A small study compared two groups of men with ED. The first group of men performed regular pelvic floor muscle exercises with a physiotherapist. They also received biofeedback and advice on lifestyle changes. The second group only received advice on lifestyle changes. Men in the first group saw their penile function improve significantly after 3 months of regular pelvic floor muscles exercises.

Men in the second group saw little improvement after 3 months. For the next 3 months, all participants were given at-home exercises to perform. After 6 months in total had elapsed, 40 percent of all participants including some men who had belonged to the second group had regained normal erectile function.

A literature review also concluded that pelvic floor exercises were effective at treating both ED and premature ejaculation. Moderate to vigorous exercise is not only good for your overall health, but also can increase blood flow, possibly helping with ED. Examples include running and swimming. A review of 10 studies examined the effect of aerobic exercise on ED. From their review, investigators concluded that minutes of weekly exercise for 6 months could lead to a decrease in erectile problems.

Another study examined physical fitness and testosterone levels in 87 men with ED. Researchers found that testosterone levels were negatively correlated with levels of body fat and abdominal fat. This suggests that exercise may increase testosterone in addition to reducing body fat. Before you start a new exercise plan, you should always discuss it with your doctor.

This is particularly important for people with heart disease or another underlying condition that could be aggravated by vigorous activity. Thank you. What is Erectile Dysfunction? ED is defined as trouble getting or keeping an erection that's firm enough for sex. ED can happen: Most often when blood flow in the penis is limited or nerves are harmed With stress or emotional reasons As an early warning of a more serious illness, like: atherosclerosis hardening or blocked arteries , heart disease, high blood pressure or high blood sugar from Diabetes Finding the cause s of your ED will help treat the problem and help with your overall well-being.

How Erections Work. See More See Less During sexual arousal, nerves release chemicals that increase blood flow into the penis. ED also causes: Low self-esteem Depression Distress for the man and his partner If ED is affecting a man's well-being or his relationships, it should be treated. Updated June ED can result from health problems, emotional issues, or from both. Some known risk factors are: Being over age 50 Having high blood sugar Diabetes Having high blood pressure Having cardiovascular disease Having high cholesterol Smoking Using drugs or drinking too much alcohol Being obese Lacking exercise Even though ED becomes more common as men age, growing old is not always going to cause ED.

See More See Less Physical Causes of ED ED happens when: There is not enough blood flows into the penis Many health issues can reduce blood flow into the penis, such as hardened arteries, heart disease, high blood sugar Diabetes and smoking.

The penis cannot trap blood during an erection If blood does not stay in the penis, a man cannot keep an erection. This issue can happen at any age. Nerve signals from the brain or spinal cord do not reach the penis Certain diseases, injury or surgery in the pelvic area can harm nerves to the penis.

Diabetes can cause small vessel disease or nerve damage to the penis Cancer treatments near the pelvis can affect the penis' functionality Surgery and or radiation for cancers in the lower abdomen or pelvis can cause ED. Treating prostate, colon-rectal or bladder cancer often leaves men with ED. Cancer survivors should see a Urologist for sexual health concerns. Drugs used to treat other health problems can negatively impact erections Patients should talk about drug side effects with their primary care doctors.

Emotional Causes of ED Normal sex needs the mind and body working together. Some emotional issues that can cause ED are: Depression Anxiety Relationship conflicts Stress at home or work Stress from social, cultural or religious conflicts Worry about sex performance Updated June Finding the cause of your ED will help direct your treatment options.

Questions about your health: What prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs or supplements do you take? Do you use recreational drugs? Do you smoke? How much alcohol do you drink? Have you had surgery or radiation therapy in the pelvic area? Do you have any urinary problems? Do you have other health problems treated or untreated? Questions About ED Knowing about your history of ED will help your health provider learn if your problems are because of your desire for sex, erection function, ejaculation, or orgasm climax.

Questions about your ED symptoms: How long have you had these symptoms? Did they start slowly or all at once?

Do you wake up in the morning or during the night with an erection? If you do have erections, how firm are they? Is penetration difficult? Do your erections change at different times, like when going in a partner, during stimulation by mouth, or with masturbation? Do you have problems with sex drive or arousal?

Do you have problems with ejaculation or orgasm climax? How is this problem changing the way you enjoy sex? Do you have painful with erections, feel a lump or bump in the penis or have penile curvature? These are signs of Peyronie's Disease which can be treated but calls for an expert in urology to assess and manage. Questions About Stress and Emotional Health Your health care provider may ask you questions about depression or anxiety.

Are you often under a lot of stress, or has something recently upset you? Do you have any anxiety, depression or other mental health issues? Are you taking any drugs for your mental health? How satisfied are you with your sex life? Has there been any changes lately?

How is your relationship with your partner? Physical Exam A physical exam checks your total health. Lab Tests Your health care provider may order blood tests and collect a urine sample to look for health problems that cause ED. Other Tests Questionnaires are often used by health experts to rate your ability to initiate and keep erections, gauge your satisfaction with sex and help identify any problems with orgasm.

Advanced Erectile Function Tests For some men with ED, specialized testing may be needed to guide treatment or re-assess you after a treatment fails. Blood work to check Testosterone and other male hormones Blood work to measure blood sugar Diabetes Ultrasonography penile Doppler to check blood flow A shot into the penis with a vascular stimulant to cause an erection Pelvic x-rays like arteriography, MRI or CT scanning are rarely needed to check ED unless there is history of trauma or cancer Nocturnal penile tumescence NPT , an overnight test to check for sleep erection Updated June Still, it helps to ask your health care provider about side effects that could result from each option: Oral drugs or pills known as phosphodiesterase type-5 inhibitors are most often prescribed in the U.

Penile vascular surgery is not recommended for older men with hardened arteries. Testosterone Therapy In those rare cases where a low sex drive and low blood levels of Testosterone are at fault for ED, Testosterone Therapy may fix normal erections or help when combined with ED drugs PDE type 5 inhibitors.

Vacuum Erection Device A vacuum erection device is a plastic tube that slips over the penis, making a seal with the skin of the body. Diagram of a Erectile Dysfunction Vacuum Enlarge. After Treatment. Don't give up! More Information. If I worry about being able to get an erection, can I make a bad condition worse?

Can I combine treatment options? I was fine until I began taking this new drug, what should I do? What is ED? What causes ED? Can it be prevented? Can you help me with ED, or do I need to see a specialist?

If I need a specialist Urologist , do you have a referral for me? What tests do you suggest to find the cause of my ED, and why?

Can you check my heart and blood health? Are there any lifestyle changes that could help my symptoms? What types of treatments are available? What treatment do you suggest for me and why? What are the pros and cons of each type of treatment you suggest? What are the side effects?

What happens if the first treatment doesn't help?