Erectile dysfunction is a disorder in which an individual lacks the ability to maintain an erection sufficient enough to have sexual intercourse. This is also referred to as impotence. This disease can occur as a result of psychological problems, as well as other diseases such as diabetes, neurological diseases, hormonal imbalance, side effects of medications and so on. However, it’s important to know that not all male sexual problems are as a result of erectile dysfunction. Some of the other common male sexual disorders include premature ejaculation, lack of libido, and delay or absent ejaculation. Some of the signs and symptoms of erectile dysfunction include the inability of the individual to get an erection, maintain an erection, and also a reduced interest in sex. This disease can be treated by administering drugs such as phosphodiesterase inhibitor such as sildenafil. Prostaglandin can also be used for the treatment of this disease. They are injected into the penis. Other treatment methods include penile prosthesis and reconstructive surgery. Stem cells can also be used for the treatment of this disease. Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can self-regenerate and are capable of tissue repair. They also control the immune system. These cells can be extracted from the patient, or gotten from other sources through a safe and painless procedure. Stem cells can be injected into the penile muscles. They are capable of restoring the blood flow and repair the weakened muscle tissues. Lastly, shockwave therapy can also be used for the treatment of this disease.

What Are The Signs And Symptoms Of Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction presents with the following symptoms;

  • Difficulty getting an erection
  • Reduced libido
  • Problems maintaining an erection, especially when engaging in sexual activities.

Other problems associated with erectile dysfunction are

  • Prolonged ejaculation
  • Premature ejaculation
  • Inability to achieve orgasm, even after sufficient and proper sexual stimulation.

It’s important to contact your physician, if you notice any of these symptoms, especially when they have persisted for more than 8 weeks or more. Your physician can make a diagnosis, and also determine what next step to take in treating and successfully eliminating the condition.

When Is It Important To Contact Your Physician?

  • It’s necessary to contact your physician when you’ve noticed that you’re experiencing premature or delayed ejaculation, especially when it’s happening each time you engage in sexual intercourse.
  • You should also go see a doctor when you notice some symptoms of erectile dysfunction and have some diseases that have a high risk of causing the condition. Some of the diseases that can predispose people to erectile dysfunction are diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases.

What Are The Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a complicated medical that involves hormones, the mental state, nerve sensitivity, muscles and the blood vessels. This disease can be caused by any one of the above. In addition, stress and a terrible mental state could also lead to erectile dysfunction. Sometimes, the condition occurs as a result of a combination of physiological, physical and psychological problems. For example, an individual that just lost his job and his fire to a fire incident might go without an erection for a long time. This is due to the emotional break down that could come with his loss. Below are some of the causes of erectile dysfunction;

Physical Causes

  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Blocked blood vessels
  • Hypercholesterolemia
  • Hypertension
  • Diabetes mellitus
  • Obesity and overweight
  • Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease
  • Smoking and the use of tobacco
  • Excessive consumption of alcohol, especially for a long time.
  • Sleep problems
  • Surgical procedures that cause injuries to the spinal cord

Psychological Causes

The mental state goes a long way in affecting the sexual performance of men. It equally plays a huge role when a man experiences erectile dysfunction. Below are some psychological factors that play a role in the development of erectile dysfunction;

  • Relationship issues: This can be due to a cheating partner, or some conflicts between couples. A partner that is not pleased or disgusted by his partner may not have the urge, thereby leading to the inability to maintain an erection.
  • Stress: Stress and overworking one’s self is also a cause of erectile dysfunction. However, this can be reversed as soon as the patient removes the cause of the stress, and starts relaxing more.
  • Depression: Depression is a condition in which an individual feels hopeless and empty. Some people are more predisposed to having depression than others. They like to isolate themselves from others. In severe cases, they might start having suicidal thoughts. People affected by this disease usually do have erectile dysfunction.

Does Age Affect The Development Of Erectile Dysfunction?

According to statistics, erectile dysfunction is more predominant in people that are above the age of 70. As an illustration, about 30% of men older than the age of 70 have this condition, while about 20% of men in their sixties have erectile dysfunction. About 12% of men below the age of sixty have the disease. This goes to show that, the older men become, the more the chances of having erectile dysfunction. Although men’s erection becomes weakened as they grow older, this doesn’t translate that they’d develop erectile dysfunction. Overall, the healthier a man is, the better his sexual function would be.

What Are The Ways Of Preventing Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction can be prevented by living a healthier lifestyle. Below are some of the ways to prevent erectile dysfunction

  • There are some diseases that predispose men to have erectile dysfunction. Some of these diseases are diabetes mellitus, heart-related diseases. Working with your physician to eliminate these diseases is the first step towards preventing the development of erectile dysfunction.
  • Lifestyle modifications: Changing and stopping habits such as smoking, and consuming less amount of alcohol goes a long way in preventing erectile dysfunction.
  • Going for frequent medical checkups: It’s important to regularly go for medical screening, especially when you know you’re predisposed to having the condition.

How Is Erectile Dysfunction Currently Treated?

Physicians usually administer some medications for the treatment of this disease. Some of the drugs administered are Viagra, Tadalafil and so on. These drugs all contain nitric oxide. This chemical compound improves the blood flow to the penile arteries and boosts sexual performance.

Stem Cell Therapy And Erectile Dysfunction

Stem cells are undifferentiated cells that can self-regenerate and are capable of tissue repair. They also control the immune system. These cells can be extracted from the patient, or gotten from other sources through a safe and painless procedure. Stem cells can be injected into the penile muscles. They are capable of restoring the blood flow and repair the weakened muscle tissues.

References

DEMIR, T. (2006). Prevalence of erectile dysfunction in patients with metabolic syndrome. International Journal of Urology, 13(4), pp.385-388.

McMahon, C. (2014). Erectile dysfunction. Internal Medicine Journal, 44(1), pp.18-26.

Orabi, H. and Lue, T. (2011). 1127 HUMAN ADIPOSE TISSUE-DERIVED STEM CELLS DIFFERENTIATED INTO SMOOTH MUSCLE AND ENDOTHELIAL CELLS FOR TREATMENT OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. The Journal of Urology, 185(4), p.e453.

Seftel, A. (2017). Re: Combination of Mesenchymal Stem Cell Injection with Icariin for the Treatment of Diabetes-Associated Erectile Dysfunction. The Journal of Urology, 198(2), p.238.