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With a growing understanding of surgical and urologic related disorders, this narrow definition has changed to include all aspects of male sexuality.
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Some treatments marketed for erectile dysfunction, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections and acoustic shock wave therapy, are unproven. Surgical insertion of a penis implant is possible if nothing else improves your erectile dysfunction. If medications are unsuccessful in treating your erectile dysfunction, your doctor may suggest using alprostadil, which is injected directly into the penis using a small needle, or a vacuum device. If your erectile dysfunction is caused by a hormonal problem like low testosterone, your doctor will usually suggest treating that first. If you’re using nitrates to manage heart pain, you shouldn’t use PDE5 inhibitors. Medical treatment for erectile dysfunction is usually a type of drug known as a phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) inhibitor, like sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis). If there’s a psychological cause of your erectile dysfunction, speaking to a psychologist or sexual health therapist may help. A healthy lifestyle will help you avoid the conditions that cause erectile dysfunction, as well as many other health problems.
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A healthy diet, regular exercise and avoiding excessive drinking, smoking, and drug use may not only improve your erectile dysfunction but will also benefit your overall health and wellbeing. You might be able to get back to normal erectile function simply by taking better care of yourself.
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Psychological factors like depression or anxiety, or relationship problems.antidepressants, blood pressure-lowering drugs) Other factors that can contribute to erectile dysfunction include: In fact, if you have erectile dysfunction, you are at higher risk than normal of coronary heart disease, stroke and death 2. This is why erectile dysfunction is often a sign of cardiovascular disease. The same mechanisms that control blood flow in your penis also control blood flow throughout your body. If something interferes with the function of the blood vessels or nerve transmission, this can cause erectile dysfunction. Getting and maintaining an erection involves changes in blood flow within your penis in response to nerve stimulation. Prostate cancer treatment increases your likelihood of erectile dysfunction considerably, with 85% of men with previous prostate cancer having erectile dysfunction 1. Other health problems that increase your risk of erectile dysfunction are: For example, you’re more than twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction if you have diabetes than if you don’t. Health problems increase your risk of erectile dysfunction.
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