About problems with the erections

What is erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) refers to a man's inability to achieve or maintain an erection that is sufficient to have sexual intercourse. That may mean several things: The erection does not occure, the erection occurs to slowly, the erection is to little, not hard enough erection, an erected penis that does not not stand rigidly, or the erection lasts too less time. It does not mean lack of sexual interest or desire, and the man may or may not be able to have orgasms or ejaculate. Erection problems can occur at any age. Occasional episodes are considered normal and often do not mean there is a serious problem. Health professionals prefer the term erectile dysfunction over impotence.

Most erection problems are caused by combined physical and psychological factors.


The mechanism of erection

Erection begins upon stimulation of a mans senses so he get excited — from something he sees, hears, smells or feels. The central nervous system then sends nerve impulses that open blood wessels so that more blood flows to his penis. At the same time vessels draining blood from the penis are blocked enough so that blood stays in the penis. This makes the penis fill with blood and get errected and the mechanism maintains the erection thereafter.

Normal erection depends on the following:

-An intact nervous system that receives external stimulus signals and sends arousing signals to the penis

- An intact system of arteries and veins (vascular system) that allows blood to flow in and out of the penis

- Valves in the furnishing blood vessels that relax to keep blood flow into the penis.

- Valves in the draining blood vessels that close to keep blood in the penis.

- Normal smooth muscle in the penis, which are able to relax so that the penis can fill with blood.


Lifestyle causes of problems with the erections


Erection, like any human ability will suffer if one is very tired, very hungy or have lack of time. If one have a lifestyle that makes oneself cronically tired, have intercourse when one is exhausted or being very hungry, the erection response will suffer from it. If one have erection problems, the first things to consider is the neccessaty of changing life-style or having intercourse at more appropriate moments.


Physical causes of problems with the erection response

Physical causes of erection problems may be.

- Depression or psychosis that hinder the brain from sending erectile impulses to the genitals.

- Organic diseases or damage in the brain parts responsible for erection impulses, caused by accidents, strokes, brain tumors or brain surgery.

- Injury or diseases in the spinal cord that leads the impulses down to the genitals or Injury to the nerves from the spinal cord to the penis. Common causes of nerve injury are accidents and neurologic diseases such as multiple sclerosis.

- Physical damage of the blood vessels leading to the penis so that their capasity of relaxing and widening is reduced. This may be caused by diseases, accidents or surgery. Artheroscerosis caused by age and unhealthy living is a common disease attacking these vessels.

- The blood vessels in the erectile bodies may be injured. A common cause is accidents towards the perineal area or penis.

- Problems with the structure of the penis or surrounding tissues. Such structures problems may be congenital as for example hypospadias and epispadias. Complications from circumcission causing the penile skin to be too thight, causing extensive scars or to loose elasticity is another causing factor.

Medication side effects, such as from medications taken for high blood pressure or depression.

- Hormonal factors or a zinc deficiency.

- Age, particularly over age 50.

- Heart disease.

- Diabetes causing problems with the nerves and blood wessels to the penis.

- High blood pressure (hypertension).

- Liver or kidney disease.

- Alcohol or drug abuse or withdrawal.


Emotional causes of erection problems

Psychological causes interfere with the erection process by distracting the man from things that would normally arouse him or by lessening the effect they normally have on him.

Psychological issues account for about 40% of erection problems. Erection problems in men under age 50 are more likely to be caused by psychological issues.

Psychological causes of erection problems include:

- Continous worrying

- Emotional upset, such as grief, anxiety, or depression.

- Relationship problems, for example when the woman has differnt preferences of sexual practice than the man.

- A man who looses sexual interest in or desire for a particular partner may develop erection problems.

- A man who has been widowed recently may have erection problems.

- Some men have difficulty having sexual intercourse with their partner after she has given birth because he does not like the changes that the birth process has caused to the woman's body.


Treatments for erection problems

The treatment for erection problems shall ideally treat the cause of the problems. If the erection problems is caused by heart disease, hypertension, artherosclerosis or diabetes, lifestyle changes and ordinary treatment of this underlying disease is necessary.

When there is a psychiatric problem, like depression, treatments against theis disease combined with lifestyle adjustments will also be a basic part of the treatment.

A situation with alcohol or drug abuse should also be remended when this is the cause of the problems.

Psycological conflicts caused by interrelational problems, economic problems or other social problems with other persons should be solved.

If there is a specific problems with the blood circulation or nerval regulation in the genital area, farmacological drugs or herbal products can often be of help, depending on the specific nature of the problem.

Even though an underlying disease or conflict is treated, this treatment can take time and the erection problem is not necessarily solved at once. During this time treatments to compensate for the erection problems can be helpful. Often the underlying problem is not perfectly curable either, and treatments to improve erections in spite of the problem can be useful. Such treatments are:

- Herbal oils to stimulate erction.

- Herbal pils to stimulate erections.

- Penis pumps in combination with penis rings can be used to pump up the penis and hold it erected for some time. The blood must however not be locked inside the penis with a ring too long in order to avoid penile tissue damage.

- Oral pharmacological preaparates like viagra and cialis that induce blood filling into the penis.

- Pharmacological drugs to be injected into the penis to boost blood filling.

- When the erection mechanism is totally without function, surgical implants can be used as the last resort. One type is a semirigid implant that hold the penis halfly erect all the time. Another type is an implant that can be pumped up for the occation.