Erectile Dysfunction or Male Impotence
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) or male impotence is the inability to attain or sustain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse. Surveys show at least 30% of men over the age of 50 have ED although it is not inevitable with age. ED may be caused by several factors:
- Psycological factors such as fear of intimacy, depression, low self esteem and stress. Psychic factors are implicated if the patient has situational ED, has morning erections, or can achieve a firm erection with masturbation. This type of ED can usually be treated by receiving some form of counseling.
- Disease factors such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, high cholesterol, heart disease, vascular disease, neurological damage, following certain surgical procedures and the use of certain drugs such as antidepressants, tranquillisers, amphetamines, antihypertensives, opioids, alcohol and tobacco.
- Hormonal factors such as low testosterone levels, high estrogen levels, high prolactin and thyroid disease.
- Pyronies Disease – curvature of the penis reducing circulation.
Age related ED is just one symptom of a larger syndrome known as andropause or male menopause. This syndrome is caused by decreasing levels of free circulating testosterone and/or increasing estrogen levels. Symptoms include: decreased libido, erectile dysfunction, ejaculatory problems, decreased energy and strength, increase in body fat, loss of muscle mass, prostate enlargement, osteoporosis, depression, inability to concentrate, reduced mental agility and loss of enthusiasm.
Testosterone plays a fundamental roll in producing erections, but it is not the whole story. An adequate penile blood supply, neural control, and the presence of two erection building chemicals (nitric oxide and cyclic GMP) are also essential. Boosting testosterone levels can restore libido (sex drive) in men whose testosterone output is deficient. It can also restore their ability to achieve and sustain an erection.
Diagnosis
A general medical evaluation should include a history of drug use, examination of the genitalia, and a search for vascular or hormonal dysfunction.
Laboratory tests requested should include: free testosterone, estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), cholesterol, glucose tolerance and prolactin (taken at 9 am to avoid diurnal variations).
Treatments for ED include:
(1) Treat any underlying problem such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or hormonal deficiencies.
If there are no underlying problems found or you still suffer from ED symptoms despite treating them then you are left with treating the symptoms. Our laboratory produces a range of treatments which include:
(2) Penile injections – we supply a range injections containing various combinations and concentrations of medications in order to treat anything from very mild to severely resistant cases.
(3) Lozenges – we supply a number of drug combinations in lozenge form to provide a faster onset of action and less side effects as lower doses are required when compared to oral dose forms.
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