Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problems) - Treatment options available from AMI.

Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problem) affects the lives of many men and their partners to one degree or another.

What is Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problems) (ED)?

Erectile Dysfunction refers to a man's consistent inability to get or maintain an erection sufficient to have satisfactory sex. It does not mean a lack of sexual interest or desire or the occasional difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection that affects all men at some time in their life.

Symptoms

Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problems) are -

• The repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.

• It can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections.

• It affects the lives of many men and their partners to one degree or another.

• The term Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problems) covers a range of disorders, but usually refers to the inability to obtain an adequate erection for satisfactory sexual activity.

At AMI we appreciate that Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problems) are treatable at any age, and awareness of this fact has been growing.

To Appreciate Erectile Dysfunction (Erection problems –we need to appreciate the Physiology of Erection

Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to accomplish or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity.. Getting older is not the main reason for this problem, it may happen at any age,. It is required to consult a medical practitioner if it lasts more than three months.

The two chambers of penis (corpora cavernosa,) which run through the organ are filled with spongy tissue. The corpora cavernosa are surrounded by a membrane, called the tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries. The urethra, which is the channel for urine and semen runs along underside of the corpora cavernosa

Due to sensory or mental stimulation, or both, the erection begins. Due to impulses from brain and local nerves the muscles of corpora cavernosa relax and allow blood to flow in and fill the spaces of spongy tissue.

The flow of blood creates pressure in the corpora cavernosa, making the penis expand. The tunica albuginea helps trap the blood in the chambers, thereby sustaining erection. When muscles in the penis contract to stop the inflow of blood and open outflow channels, erection recedes.

Thus erection in men is a equation of six types of organs -located in the testicles, urinary bladder, phallus, umbilicus, thighs and groin. Its functions are Ejaculation of semen.

The process of erection and Ejaculation are as follows

• When a man has desire to have sex, his response to touch increases.
• So sensitivity in skin causes flow of signals from skin to brain, thus causing sensation of touch.

• This causes arousal.

• Arousal intensifies actions and at a point becomes highly active to liberate heat and increase body temperature; heart beat and blood flow causing erection.

• Erection requires a sequence of events. Erectile Dysfunction can occur when any of the events is disturbed. Nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, around the penis and response in muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries in and around the corpora cavernosa constitute this sequence of events. Injury to any of these parts which are part of this sequence (nerves, arteries, smooth muscles, fibrous tissue) can cause Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problems).

An erection occurs when our imagination stimulates one or more senses (vision, hearing, touch, smell, taste) –leading to arousal. Our central nervous System sends nerve impulses that increase blood flow to your penis.

Basic requirements for a normal erection are:

o A properly functioning nervous System to send the requisite signals to the penis.

o Effective blood vessels which allow blood flow to & out of the penis.

o Smooth muscles in penis, which relaxes to allow the penis to fill with blood and enlarge.

o Finally –the ability to trap the blood in the penis so that it stays firm.

ED can occur at any age!

• A youngster in twenties about to be engaged or to be married, tense, anxious, confused c/o vague sexually oriented symptoms and/or querries.

• A middle aged (35 to 55) stressed-out, busy executive, smoker, recent diabetic c/o loss of libido and recent episodes of failure at penetration or of Premature Ejaculation.

• A senior citizen, retired, h/o myocardial ischemic episodes, on medication for HT, DM, accepts low frequency of sexual desire and coital needs but feels he and his wife would be happier with once in a while satisfactory penetrative sex which he is unable to have for a long time.

• It can be quite varied in terms of age and symptoms. A clinician needs to probe deeper to understand the exact problem and differentiate psychogenic from organic nature of Erectile Dysfunction (Erection Problems).