{"id":12483,"date":"2016-02-22T12:04:48","date_gmt":"2012-02-22T19:04:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.accessrx.com\/blog\/?p=4826"},"modified":"2018-10-30T15:06:26","modified_gmt":"2018-10-30T15:06:26","slug":"take-back-your-power","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.edrugstore.com\/blog\/erectile-dysfunction\/take-back-your-power\/","title":{"rendered":"Erectile Dysfunction Treatments: Take Back Your Power"},"content":{"rendered":"

D<\/span>espite what the old song says, it\u2019s not always easy to be hard. But then again, it’s not as difficult as it once was. Check out these erectile dysfunction treatment options.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

What\u2019s worse than getting an erection at an inappropriate time? Many men would answer, “Not being able to get one at an appropriate<\/em> time.” The human body is a marvelous machine, and usually our bodies serve us very well, but sometimes it seems they go out of their way to betray or embarrass us.<\/p>\n

Every guy in his teens and early twenties has experienced the awkwardness of the dreaded “banana in your pocket” occurring at the absolute worst times. But as men reach their mid- to late 40s, 50s and beyond, many have the opposite problem: They may find it difficult to get an erection even in those private moments when they and their partners are extremely aroused and an erection is very much desired. Often this makes intercourse difficult if not impossible. It\u2019s a problem that an increasing number of men are experiencing for a variety of reasons, which is why erectile dysfunction is is a popular topic on health blogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

If an erection glitch only occurs once in a while, it\u2019s usually not a problem (after all, it even happens to young guys on occasion). It might be momentarily embarrassing, but it\u2019s probably nothing to worry about. But if the situation becomes chronic, it is known as erectile dysfunction, or ED. It sounds clinical and it is, but it\u2019s much more descriptive \u2013 and considerably less negative-sounding \u2013 than the old word “impotence,” which, fortunately, is on its way out. Impotence literally means powerlessness, and even in a purely clinical context it seems there\u2019s a lot of unnecessary judgment in that word. So let\u2019s just throw the entire concept of impotence out the window right now. It\u2019s not appropriate, particularly since men today are anything but powerless when it comes to dealing with ED. There are more options than ever to help them battle the problem and take back the power they fear they\u2019ve lost, including but not limited to a range of FDA-approved prescription drugs for erectile dysfunction<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Is It Really ED?<\/h3>\n
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Postage stamps aren’t just for envelopes. You can use them to test your ability to get an erection.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First it\u2019s important for a man to know just how “dysfunctional” his erectile equipment really is. The most common clinical description of ED is sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain a penile erection during sex. But that doesn\u2019t necessarily mean a man is completely incapable of becoming erect. Many men have nocturnal erections while they\u2019re sleeping, but, true to the common definition of ED, they can\u2019t produce or maintain an erection during sexual play.<\/p>\n

The fact is that healthy men of virtually any age have three to five (or more) spontaneous erections during sleep \u2013 but of course it\u2019s difficult to keep track of such things when one is asleep. However, there\u2019s a simple test any man can perform at home, called a nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test. (It sounds bizarre, but don\u2019t let that<\/em> stop you.) Tape a strip of postage stamps around the shaft of your penis before you go to bed. If the strip tears at night, this either means you had at least one erection \u2013 and are physically capable of producing one when you\u2019re awake \u2013 or it means that a perverted stamp collector sneaked into your bedroom and was in the process of removing your test strip but had an attack of conscience and abandoned the job. Go with the simpler explanation, and you\u2019re on your way to figuring out how to solve the problem.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re getting erections while you are sleeping but can\u2019t seem to produce one when it really counts, that could mean there are psychological issues behind the ED<\/a>, but it still doesn\u2019t rule out physiological causes. If you aren\u2019t getting erections at all, you could have a problem with nerve function or the blood supply to your penis, or there could be some other physical cause. Obviously this isn\u2019t something you can determine on your own.<\/p>\n

So what do you do next? Make an appointment with your urologist, andrologist, or other qualified medical professional. To date there are no formal medical tests specifically to diagnose ED, probably because there are many types of ED. However, one of the first things your doctor may do, after taking a complete medical history, is perform some blood tests to rule out underlying diseases or disorders, such as hormonal problems or diabetes. (The latter can cause neuropathy, which can adversely affect your erectile abilities.)<\/p>\n

There are also numerous diagnostic procedures and tests, including a more definitive version of that NPT thing you did with the stamps, ultrasound, magnetic-resonance imaging, reflex tests, and infusion procedures. It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss all of these in detail, but your doctor can explain your options to you.<\/p>\n

Causes of erectile dysfunction<\/h3>\n

The right treatment for erectile dysfunction depends largely upon the cause of the ED. Your doctor may prescribe an erectile dysfunction drug<\/a>, or may recommend another course of treatment. But first he needs to know the cause. It\u2019s not enough to categorically dismiss ED as an inevitable side effect of “aging.” That is simplistic and doesn\u2019t help anyone. Although aging is generally listed as a factor contributing to ED, and it becomes more common as men get older, this certainly doesn\u2019t mean that a man is doomed to a flaccid existence once he hits the big five-o (or six-o, or seven-o).<\/p>\n

ED can result from a range of physiological or psychological causes. Some of the most common, listed in no particular order of occurrence, are:
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\nPhysiological:<\/em><\/p>\n