Erectile Dysfunction

The persistent or recurrent inability to achieve or maintain an erection good enough to complete your chosen sexual activity satisfactorily, whether that’s masturbation, oral sex or vaginal or anal intercourse. The occasional inability to achieve a satisfactory erection doesn’t normally constitute a problem.

To diagnose erectile dysfunction, our doctors use a verbal questionnaire and a physical exam. However, if you have underlying health conditions, you might need a blood test or urine test to get an official diagnosis. Further testing, like a penile doppler ultrasound, might be performed to assess blood flow in the penis, providing critical information on vascular health. Additionally, reviewing your medical history can highlight potential contributing factors, such as medications or psychological conditions, essential for developing an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction at our ED clinic.

To diagnose erectile dysfunction, our doctors use a verbal questionnaire and a physical exam. However, if you have underlying health conditions, you might need a blood test or urine test to get an official diagnosis. Further testing, like a penile doppler ultrasound, might be performed to assess blood flow in the penis, providing critical information on vascular health. Additionally, reviewing your medical history can highlight potential contributing factors, such as medications or psychological conditions, essential for developing an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction at our ED clinic.

Erectile dysfunction affects men from various backgrounds and for a multitude of reasons. While age itself isn’t a cause of erectile dysfunction (ED), the risk nevertheless increases as you get older: 18% of 50-59-year-olds have trouble with their erections compared with 7% of 18-29-year-olds. However, it’s also possible for symptoms to start earlier. If you’re worried you’re starting to experience symptoms, reach out to a professional at our men’s erectile dysfunction clinic.

• There are two main causes of ED: physical and psychological. Most doctors agree that the majority of cases are physical but it’s also clear that many men with ED also quickly start to feel anxious, stressed or depressed. These feelings can easily make the symptoms of ED worse.

The main physical causes are:

• Diabetes. Up to 25% of all diabetic men aged 30-34 are affected by ED, as are 75% of diabetic men aged 60-64.
• Inadequate blood flow to the penis because arteries have got furred-up (a condition called atherosclerosis) or damaged. This causes about 40% of ED cases in men aged over 50. Smoking cigarettes, which is implicated in up to 80% of ED cases, constricts the blood vessels and is a major cause of damage to the arteries leading to the penis. One little-known cause of damage to key blood vessels is cycling.
• Regular heavy drinking. Alcohol can damage the nerves leading to the penis, reduce testosterone levels and increase levels of the female hormone estrogen.
• The side-effects of prescribed drugs, particularly those used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, peptic ulcers, and cancer. As many as 25% of ED cases may be caused by drugs taken to treat other conditions.
• Spinal cord injury. Almost a quarter of men with spinal injury are affected by ED.
• Prostate gland surgery (or other surgery around the pelvis). The risk of ED depends on the type of surgery, but up to 30% of men who have a radical prostatectomy (the complete removal of the gland affected by cancer) will experience ED.

The main psychological causes of ED are:

• Relationship conflicts
• Stress and anxiety
• Depression (90% of men affected by depression also have complete or moderate ED)
• Unresolved sexual orientation
• Sexual boredom

One way of working out whether your ED has a physical cause is to see whether there are any circumstances in which you get an erection. If you can produce one when masturbating but not with a partner, wake up with an erection, or have erections during the night, then there’s a good chance that your ED has psychological causes.

Erectile dysfunction doesn’t last for a specific period of time and its duration often depends on the cause. Some men experience temporary ED due to stress, anxiety, or certain medications, which may be resolved with lifestyle changes or addressing the underlying cause. Chronic or long-term ED might continue due to health conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or hormonal imbalances. Some ED clinic patients may experience symptoms for years, while others find that their symptoms subside after a few weeks or months with the right ED solutions..

Erectile dysfunction isn’t necessarily permanent because it can be the result of various factors such as stress, medication side effects, health conditions, or lifestyle choices. Most cases of ED are treatable with lifestyle changes, medication, therapy, or medical procedures. ED treatments will depend on the underlying cause, so it’s important to consult a professional for help. With proper intervention, the right ED solutions, and the guidance of our erectile dysfunction clinic, many men experience improvement in their symptoms.

Improving overall health can help prevent erectile dysfunction. Quitting smoking and drinking alcohol in moderation will help. Regular aerobic exercise and a low-fat diet will also reduce the risks of atherosclerosis. If you have diabetes, ensure it’s properly controlled.

– Yes. Get help and advice as soon as you notice a problem. This isn’t only important in terms of getting treatment for your ED: your struggle could also be a symptom of other potentially serious conditions (such as diabetes or heart disease).

One study of 50 men with ED who had sought prescriptions for Viagra found that although none of them had any symptoms of heart disease, six were found to have blockages in all three major heart arteries, seven had two arteries that showed narrowing and one artery was blocked in another seven. Overall, 40% of the men were at significant risk of angina or a heart attack.

If you are on treatment for a medical or psychiatric problem and you think that this treatment is affecting your sex life, tell your doctor. Alternative treatments that may have less likelihood of affecting sexual function are often available.

If your doctor doesn’t take your problem seriously, ask to be referred to a specialist. Don’t let yourself be fobbed off with comments like, “What do you expect at your age?”

At Golden State Urology, we offer personalized solutions that go beyond prescription drugs. Our erectile dysfunction treatment clinic ensures that your erectile dysfunction care is tailored to you.

Yes, seeing a urologist for ED can help you diagnose and treat the problem. Urologists specialize in male reproductive and urinary health, offering expertise in addressing ED through medication, lifestyle changes, or procedures.

There are ED surgery options available for patients with severe cases. One option is a penile prosthesis, which is a small device that is inserted into the penis and can help it create an erection. Patients who have experienced ED as a result of traumatic injury can also undergo microsurgical penile revascularization as an ED solution. This procedure connects the blood vessels in the penis and lower abdomen, increasing blood flow to the reproductive system.