Many people don’t believe that if a man suffers from symptoms of erectile dysfunction, all he needs is treatment, that is, taking medication. There is an opinion that only taking a certain medication will help patients suffering from erectile dysfunction regain potency and return to normal sex life. However, this is a rather limited view of a problem as complex, delicate and multifaceted as erectile dysfuntion.
Erectile dysfunction is a disease that can have different etiologies and is associated with disruption of many processes occurring in the male body. Accordingly, the management of erectile dysfunction, i.e. control of the disease, must be carried out from the point of view of a systematic approach. It is important to consider which factors predominate in the occurrence of potency problems in a particular patient.
Fortunately, modern medicine is paying more and more attention to an integrated approach to the treatment of various diseases. Erectile dysfunction is no exception among them. A systematic approach is important for successful treatment and, if not for cure, then for compensation and control of many diseases, including chronic gastritis, cholecystitis, renal failure, diabetes mellitus and many others.
Management of erectile dysfunction can be divided into five main sections. It is absolutely not necessary that every patient needs all five categories of treatment. Most often, two categories are enough. In any case, it is useful to know what general methods of controlling this disease exist today and in which cases it is advisable to use them. This information will allow men facing problems in bed not to feel lost in an ocean of incompetent advice from men’s forums, friends and various charlatans who promise restoration of potency after, for example, a week of taking a herbal tea.
Management of erectile dysfunction includes drug treatment, lifestyle changes, psychological support, mechanical devices and surgical interventions. Next, we will examine each point in more detail to clarify in which cases certain treatment strategies are used.
Medical treatment
Drug therapy is the basis on which modern treatment of erectile dysfunction is based. It uses drugs from the category of PDE-5 inhibitors, which help improve blood flow to the penis. Despite the fact that the market offers the three most commonly used drugs in this category, namely Sildenafil (the active ingredient of braded Viagra), Tadalafil (the active ingredient of branded Cialis) and Vardenafil (the active ingredient of branded Levitra). Though these three drugs have certain differences from each other, in general, their effect on the male body is approximately the same.
Depending on the characteristics of the pathology of a particular patient, the doctor may give preference to prescribing one of these drugs.
Cialis is best suited for continuous use and can be used in patients suffering from diseases of the cardiovascular system. Viagra is effective even in advanced cases of erectile dysfunction, but has some pretty significant side effects. At the same time, Levitra can be particularly useful for men whose erectile dysfunction is associated with or is a consequence of premature ejaculation, because vardenafil reduces penile sensitivity and prolongs arousal.
The vast majority of men suffering from potency disorders are forced to resort to drug treatment. Young men whose sexual problems relate exclusively to the psychological sphere are perhaps an exception. However, taking one of the medications listed may also help them.
Lifestyle change
Changing lifestyle is an aspect that, unfortunately, is often neglected by men who notice disturbances in the functioning of their sexual sphere. Meanwhile, timely normalization of lifestyle not only helps prevent the development of erection problems, but also significantly improves the situation if erectile dysfunction has already begun to appear.
It is important to have a healthy diet, exercise regularly or at least moderate physical activity, such as long walks or any other type of activity that a man enjoys (be it swimming, cycling, playing sports, physical gardening, training at the gym, etc.). Quitting smoking is very important, because smoking is a very powerful factor that causes blood vessels to stick together, especially the smallest ones, which literally permeate the penis. Often the only cause of erection problems is smoking. In addition, alcohol has a very negative effect on the male sexual sphere. Not everyone always needs to give it up completely, but alcohol consumption should be moderate and if you already have potency problems, it should be minimized. This will help improve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction even without the use of medication.
Remember how important it is to sleep enough hours a day (at least eight) and drink enough water.
Maintaining normal body weight helps normalize potency and protects against the risk of type 2 diabetes, which has a very negative effect on all blood vessels, including those in the penis.
Psychological support
A man’s psychological comfort is an important aspect of his healthy sexuality. Unfortunately, many times life’s difficulties have such a depressing psychological effect on men that their sexual function begins to suffer. All kinds of stress, anxiety and depression can cause erectile dysfunction or worsen existing potency problems. Additionally, psychological difficulties may or may not be directly related to problems in bed. In other words, it doesn’t really matter why a man experiences anxiety, fear, or stress. Either way, it has an extremely negative effect on sexual desire in general and on getting and maintaining an erection in particular.
The cause of anxiety can be problems at work, in the family, low self-esteem, high expectations from one’s body (for example, if a man is sure that he must have sexual intercourse twice in one night), fear of sexual failure, unsuccessful sexual experience, etc. In any case, the psychological state must be normalized, which can be achieved by consulting psychologists, especially psychologists also called sexologists. They know the features of psychogenic erectile dysfunction better than others, and psychotherapy under their guidance can significantly improve the situation.
As a rule, psychological support alone is not enough to normalize the intimate sphere, and it is advisable to combine it with drug treatment and lifestyle changes.
Sometimes men are sure that the cause of their potency problems lies in organic diseases, but in fact, after undergoing medical examinations, they find out that they are completely healthy and the root of all their problems lies in their psyche. In such cases, psychological support truly constitutes a key point in the management of erectile dysfunction.
The cause of anxiety can be problems at work, in the family, low self-esteem, high expectations from one’s body (for example, if a man is sure that he must have sexual intercourse twice in one night), fear of sexual failure, unsuccessful sexual experience, etc. In any case, the psychological state must be normalized, which can be achieved by consulting psychologists, especially psychologists also called sexologists. They know the features of psychogenic erectile dysfunction better than others, and psychotherapy under their guidance can significantly improve the situation.
As a rule, psychological support alone is not enough to normalize the intimate sphere, and it is advisable to combine it with drug treatment and lifestyle changes.
Sometimes men are sure that the cause of their potency problems lies in organic diseases, but in fact, after undergoing medical examinations, they find out that they are completely healthy and the root of all their problems lies in their psyche. In such cases, psychological support truly constitutes a key point in the management of erectile dysfunction.
Mechanical devices
This method of managing erectile dysfunction, such as the use of vacuum devices that increase blood flow to the penis, can be considered relevant for men for whom even such powerful drugs as Viagra are not enough to achieve a full erection. They may also be helpful if a man cannot take strong PDE-5 inhibitors because of concomitant illnesses, such as heart failure or inherited retinal diseases.
Devices such as vacuum pumps are not harmful to health if used in accordance with the instructions for the specific device and have no systemic effects on the body. They can be used even by men who are not very satisfied with the quality of their erection, but do not want to resort to drug treatment.
Besides vacuum devices, penile prostheses also fall into the mechanical category. They may be considered as a treatment option if other treatment options are ineffective. Penile prosthesis is used in advanced stages of erectile dysfunction, when all other methods of treatment have not brought the desired result. Penile prostheses consist of replacing the corpora cavernosa of the penis with functional implants, thanks to which the penis can achieve the rigidity necessary for sexual intercourse. There are different types of penile prostheses, ranging from simple semi-rigid rods to three-piece hydraulic prostheses.
Surgical intervention
In rare cases, when other treatment methods prove ineffective, surgery may be necessary to restore activity. The essence of this treatment method is that the doctor stops the flow of venous blood from the corpora cavernosa of the penis by ligating the veins of the penis to prevent the flow of venous blood from the corpora cavernosa.
The essence of the operation is ligation of the deep dorsal vein. Thanks to this, the blood pressure in the penis increases and an improvement in the quality and duration of the erection is achieved. The operation is an example of vascular surgery. It is quite complex and requires a highly qualified doctor.
Surgical access is via an incision at the base of the penis. The deep dorsal vein is isolated and ligated, while a self-regulated hemodynamic system is formed by connecting the dorsal vein to two arteries. After that, the wound is sutured and a bandage is applied to it.
Some experts also classify penile prostheses as surgical operations, but it is more correct to place them in a separate category.
