Popularly
called sexual impotence, soft erection problem affects about 155 million men
worldwide and is considered the most frequent among men. It is more common in
men above the age of 40, but can appear at any age. Erectile dysfunction is
considered only when a man is unable to ejaculate or have a soft erection which
is not satisfactory for sexual intercourse. It can occur even when the desire for
orgasm remains.
How erection occurs?
When
a man receives sexual stimuli, the brain sends a chemical signal to the nerves
of the penis. These nerves originate a chemical to be released from the blood
vessels of the organ that makes two large chambers of the penis fill with
blood. This stimulation causes relaxation of the muscles in the penis and
increases blood flow to the same, promoting erection.
The
erection depends on blood flow to the penis, so anything that affects, also
ends up affecting the ability to obtain and maintain hard erection. Inadequate
blood flow is the main cause of erectile dysfunction.
When
men get older, the blood vessels and capillaries in the penis decrease in size
and in some cases even disappears, causing a loss of sexual desire and erection problems.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction:
The
causes of erectile dysfunction can commonly be categorized as organic or
psychological.
Psychological:
About
70% of men have erectile dysfunction due to anxiety or fear of failing again.
The lack of ejaculatory control is another factor that contributes, since fear
of ejaculating before satisfying his partner causes often end up failing due to
anxiety during intercourse. The everyday stress can also affect it. It can
manifest itself in various ways, such as premature or delayed ejaculation,
painful ejaculation and impotence itself.
Due
to the arteries and veins are critical to achieve and maintain an erection, any
disease or disorder that alters blood flow passing through them can cause
erectile dysfunction. 35 to 50% of diabetics suffer from the problem. That's
because diabetes causes vascular and nerve damage, both influencing the ability
of erection disorder.
Other factors that may cause the
remaining 30% of affected:
Kidney
disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, vascular disease,
hypertension, hyperlipidemia (excess fat or lipids in the blood), hypogonadism
(reduced activity of the reproductive glands), endocrine disorders, smoking,
anemia, trauma or injury to the pelvis or spinal cord, heart disease, Peyronie's
disease (a painful curvature of the penis which prevents the penetration), the
erectile tissue of the penis disease, vascular surgery, colon or prostate
cancer and depression, drugs such as marijuana (can cause sterility), alcohol ,
cigarettes, heroin, cocaine, barbiturates and antidepressants.
Symptoms of erectile dysfunction:
•
Reducing the size and penile rigidity;
•
Inability to obtain and maintain an erection;
•
Reduction of body hair;
•
Testicular atrophy or absence;
•
Dick deformed;
•
Peripheral vascular disease;
•
Neuropathy (disorder of the nervous system functions).
The
treatment for erectile dysfunction will depend greatly on the cause of its
onset, the disease that is caused or specifically the dysfunction. Among the
many features that can be used are psychotherapy, hormone replacement after the
45-year-old self-injection, implant, gels and creams, oral medications such as
Viagra, Cialis and Levitra and stiffening by suction.
