Men who suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED) struggle to get and maintain an erection firm enough for satisfactory sex. ED is the most common sex problem among men. It affects millions of men in the world, with several reports showing that about 18 million cases have been reported in the United States alone. Although it is common for men to have episodes of ED from time to time, regular occurrences that persist for over three months should be a cause for concern. To help men address such concerns, Male Medical Group in San Antonio, Texas offers erectile dysfunction treatment.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Age
As we get older, we become more vulnerable to many health conditions. ED is one of the health conditions that becomes more common or worse as men age. While up to 12% of men experience at least one episode of ED before the age of 40, the number gets higher with every decade of life. In fact, over 50% of men aged 70 and above show some symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Lifestyle Choices
Being overweight or obese is the leading cause of death in the United States. Besides interfering with your blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels, being overweight also affects some bodily functions, such as erections. An unhealthy weight causes your body to turn testosterone into estrogen. Other factors like unhealthy dietary choices and physical inactivity also lower testosterone levels. The lower your testosterone levels, the harder it is to achieve an erection.
Diabetes
Diabetes is an overwhelming chronic disease that affects almost 500 million people in the world. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, while Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces. Men suffering from diabetes are at an increased risk of experiencing ED. Around 50% of men with diabetes show some symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
Heart Disease and High Cholesterol
Urologists believe that what is good for your heart health is good for your sex health. Science proves there is a unique relationship between your heart and your erection. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are known risk factors for ED; however, recent research shows that when a healthy man suddenly develops erectile dysfunction, he is likely to be diagnosed with heart disease within five years. If you are generally healthy but have some symptoms of ED, you should get your heart checked.
Smoking
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), tobacco kills half of its users, with over eight million people dying each year. Along the way, it will wreak havoc in many aspects of your life, including what takes place in the bedroom. Continued use of tobacco restricts the flow of blood to your penis. When the supply of blood to the penis reduces, it makes it more difficult for you to get and maintain an erection.
Certain Medications
Some medications (prescription and other types) can contribute to or cause ED. Medications that can affect your erection include:
- Blood pressure medications
- Antidepressant
- Acid reflux medications
- Antihistamines
- Opioid pain medications
Besides the aforementioned medications, there are many other drugs that can interfere with your erection. During your consultation to determine the cause of your ED, we will ask you about any medications you have been taking recently.
Mental Health Issues
A popular saying goes: the brain is our most powerful sex organ. The brain plays an important role in helping you get and maintain an erection. When suffering from mental health issues or experiencing emotional issues, your brain can struggle to make nerve connections and to release the hormones that enable you to achieve and sustain an erection. Some of the mental health and emotional issues that affect your ability to get an erection include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Worry about sex performance
- Stress at home or work
- Relationship conflicts
- Stress from social, cultural, or religious conflicts
- Low self-esteem
Prostate Inflammation and Prostate Cancer
Since the prostate is responsible for making one of the components of semen, its health is important for a firm erection. While benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is not responsible for erectile dysfunction, the medication used to treat it can have a negative impact on your erection. Prostate inflammation and prostate cancer can turn ejaculation from a delightful experience to a painful one. These two conditions can also make it difficult for you to achieve an erection.
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)
Some STIs such as gonorrhea, chlamydia, viral hepatitis, and untreated HIV can lead to infections in the prostate gland. Once the prostate gland is infected, one might experience some symptoms of erection dysfunction. Fortunately, once the infections in the prostate gland are treated and the STIs are treated or managed, the symptoms of ED will disappear. However, if the infections in the prostate gland are not treated, they can cause irreversible damage.
Low Testosterone (Low T)
Around 25% of men have lower-than-normal levels of testosterone. Low T can have devastating effects on your health and general well-being. It can cause insomnia, hair loss, low sex drive, fatigue, reduced bone mass, memory loss, and erectile dysfunction among other complications. The lower your testosterone levels, the harder it is for you to get and maintain an erection. Fortunately, once the doctor finds out you have Low T, he can recommend testosterone replacement therapy to boost your testosterone levels. As your testosterone levels rise back to normal, the symptoms of ED will gradually disappear.
Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosis
Physical Exam
A physical exam allows the doctor to get a clear picture of your general health. The exam focuses on your penis and testicles to check for ED. Depending on your age and other risk factors, the physical exam might expand to include your heart. Additionally, after reviewing your family history, the doctor might also check your prostate. Not all patients need to go through all these tests before starting treatment.
Lab Tests
The doctor might order blood tests and collect a urine sample to determine whether you have any health issues associated with ED.
Advanced Erectile Function Tests
Sometimes specialized testing is required to guide treatment or to re-assess you after one treatment option proves ineffective. Advance tests include:
- Blood work to check for diabetes
- Blood work to monitor testosterone and other male hormones
- Ultrasonography to monitor blood flow
- Pelvic x-rays where the man has a history of trauma or cancer
- Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) to monitor sleep erections
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Options and Results
Basic erectile dysfunction treatment begins with taking good care of heart and vascular health. Your doctor will recommend certain changes depending on the cause of your ED. These changes might require you to adopt healthier eating habits, avoid smoking, exercise more, and avoid alcohol and other drugs. Additionally, the doctor might recommend that you treat or resolve mental health and emotional issues such as depression, anxiety, stress issues, and relationship conflicts.
Oral Drugs
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved 4 drugs known as PDE type-5 inhibitors to treat ED. These oral agents boost the flow of blood to the penis, improving the ability of the user to achieve and maintain an erection. These are:
- Viagra® (sildenafil citrate)
- Cialis® (tadalafil)
- Levitra® (vardenafil HCl)
- Stendra® (avanafil)
How Soon Can You Experience Positive Results?
PDE type-5 inhibitors give you an erection in 1 to 2 hours after taking them. They may take a little longer to work for men suffering from diabetes or cancer. We’ll help you understand if these are right for you and choose the right combination of medications for your needs.
Testosterone Therapy
Testosterone replacement therapy offers relief to men who experience ED because of low testosterone levels.
How Soon Can You Experience Positive Results?
As a solution to erectile dysfunction caused by Low T, testosterone replacement therapy might take up to 3 weeks to work. However, when combined with PDE type-5 inhibitors, positive results can be experienced within hours.
Self-Injection Therapy (Trimix)
As the name suggests, this erectile dysfunction treatment option involves injecting yourself in the side of the penis with Alprostadil, using a very fine needle. The first injection should be under the guidance and supervision of a doctor, and the doctor will teach you how to do it correctly. This option has a success rate of up to 85% and offers relief to men who seem not to benefit from PDE type-5 inhibitors. Trimix offers a reliable, cost-effective solution for erectile dysfunction.
How Soon Can You Experience Positive Results?
After injecting yourself with Trimix, you will achieve a firm erection in 5 to 20 minutes.
R3 or PRP Penile Treatment
The R3 or PRP Penile Treatment is a newly developed, non-invasive treatment option for erectile dysfunction. It offers relief from ED symptoms by utilizing platelet-rich plasma (PRP). In recent years, medical researchers have discovered the body’s ability to heal itself. PRP therapy is a form of regenerative medicine that exploits these self-healing abilities of your body.
How It Works
Plasma, the liquid part of the blood, is comprised mainly of water and proteins. It transports red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets throughout the body. Also known as the thrombocytes, platelets are responsible for blood clots and regenerative healing functions. During a PRP treatment, the patient is injected with a concentration of his own platelets to speed up or activate the healing process in the treatment site. The doctor draws some blood from you, then passes the sample through a centrifuge to isolate the platelets.
As an erectile dysfunction treatment, PRP penile treatment will:
- Help you achieve and maintain erections
- Give you better, harder erections
- Compliment other treatment options
- Boost your sexual confidence
PRP penile treatment also creates a conducive environment that can sometimes promote male growth or enhancement.
How Soon Can You Experience Positive Results?
The majority of men experience the benefits of PRP penile treatment shortly after the first session. The benefits improve gradually with time and last up to 18 months. One may need more sessions after 18 months to maintain the results.
Since there is no downtime, you can resume your normal activities immediately after treatment. It is also important to note that PRP penile treatment is safe and effective for men of all ages because it only utilizes the natural growth properties of your own body.
Reach Out for Help
ED can lower quality of life. Fortunately, there are several treatment options depending on the cause. Many of these options provide positive results almost immediately. They also provide reliable results for the majority of the men who try them. Therefore, do not suffer in silence. For erectile dysfunction treatment, contact Male Medical Group in San Antonio, Texas.