Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition that can develop gradually over time, often due to circulatory or nervous system problems. However, it can also occur suddenly and unexpectedly. Sudden ED is also known as sudden impotence. Understandably, this can be very unsettling for anyone going through it.
It's important to understand the difference between gradual and sudden ED, as the cause of the condition can vary depending on the type. Gradual ED usually indicates causes that involve blood flow or nerves. On the other hand, a sudden loss of sexual desire or ability to have erections generally suggests that the guilt may be due to medication or psychological difficulty, such as depression or stress. Large multinational studies estimate that up to 30% of young men have experienced ED.
Transurethral resection of the prostate, a surgical technique often used when medication fails, also causes ED in a small percentage of men. By reducing your consumption of tobacco and alcohol and, at the same time, making healthy improvements in your diet and activity level, you may see your erectile function improve. ED occurs when not enough blood flows to the penis or if the penis cannot hold enough blood to maintain an erection.Vascular surgery is used only in men whose ED is the result of specific blood vessel problems. This process, called detumescence or deflation, occurs when the chemical messengers that initiated and maintained the erection stop being produced, and other chemicals, such as the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 (PDE), destroy the remaining messengers.In addition to obesity-related vascular problems, having a high waist circumference has been linked to an increased risk of ED.
In milder forms, the condition can produce painful ejaculation, which can certainly interfere with sexual pleasure and cause ED.If you've tried pills for ED but they haven't been helpful, your doctor may inject prostaglandin, a fatty acid that widens blood vessels, into your penis to see if this causes an erection. By becoming more active, you can improve erectile function by improving vascular function, as well as effectively improving your mood.For example, finasteride (Proscar), an antitestosterone drug prescribed for BPH, has been linked to ED in 3.7% of men who use it and to a decrease in libido in 3.3%. If it's not clear if your erectile difficulties have a psychological or physical cause, your doctor may recommend a nighttime penile tumescence test. Checking testosterone levels used to be one of the first tests ordered for men with erectile difficulty, but that was before doctors realized that testosterone deficiency was rarely the source of the problem.
Men who have benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate, may also experience ED and ejaculation problems. It's important to understand that ED can develop gradually over time due to circulatory or nervous system problems or it can occur suddenly and unexpectedly due to psychological issues or medication. By reducing your consumption of tobacco and alcohol and making healthy improvements in your diet and activity level you may see an improvement in your erectile function.
