Erectile Dysfunction Frequently Asked Questions
Not being able to get or maintain an erection is called Erectile Dysfunction (ED). While this can be a source of great embarrassment for a man, the good news is that this very common condition can be successfully treated in most cases.
In this article board certified physician and sexual health expert Dr. Hetal Gor answer her patients’ most frequently asked questions about Erectile Disfunction or “ED”.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
The occasional inability to achieve a satisfactory erection isn’t considered ED. In fact, this happens to most men from time to time.
But the persistent or recurrent inability complete a sexual activity satisfactorily – which is estimated to affect about 10% of men – is considered “ED” and should be medically examined and treated.
Who Gets Erectile Dysfunction?
Because Erectile Dysfunction can be caused by a wide variety of lifestyle, psychological and medical issues, it can strike at almost any age.
But, while age itself isn’t a cause of erectile dysfunction, the likelihood of ED increases with age: 7% of men aged 18 to 29 suffer from ED while almost 20% of men 50 to 59 have trouble with their erections.
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
Occasional or isolated bouts of ED can be caused by stress, exhaustion, too much alcohol, or simply not being “in the mood”. But persistent erectile dysfunction (ED) has two main causes: physical and psychological. Medical professionals agree that the vast majority of ED cases are caused by an underlying physical condition and are not just “in your head”.
However, even when the cause of ED is physical, men with erection problems can also start to feel anxious, stressed, pressured to perform, or depressed. And these feelings can certainly make the symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction worse.
What Are the Physical Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
The main physical causes of ED are:
- Diabetes: affecting 25% of all diabetic men aged 30 to 34, and 75% of diabetic men aged 60 to 64.
- Atherosclerosis: inadequate blood flow to the penis causes about 40% of ED cases in men aged over 50.
- Smoking: cigarettes are implicated in up to 80% of ED cases.
- Heavy drinking: alcohol damages the nerves leading to the penis & reduces testosterone levels.
- Medications: certain drugs – especially those used to treat high blood pressure, heart disease, depression, ulcers, and cancer – account for up to 25% of ED cases.
- Spinal cord injury: almost 25% of men with a spinal injury suffer from erectile dysfunction.
- Prostate gland surgery: up to 30% of men who have a removal of a cancerous prostate gland will experience ED.
What Are the Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction?
The main psychological causes of ED are:
- Relationship problems
- Stress
- Depression and/or anxiety
- Unresolved sexual orientation
- Sexual boredom
- Exhaustion or sleep problems
If a man wakes up with erections, has erections during the night, and can achieve an erection when masturbating but not with a partner, then there’s a good chance that his ED has psychological causes.
What are the Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction?
The good news is that a wide variety of treatments for ED are now available.
Older Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
- Oral drugs (such as Viagra) are the most commonly used treatments for ED, however they also have the most dangerous side effects – and are typically the least convenient. An ED pill must be timed perfectly every time intercourse is desired, which can interfere with spontaneity.
- Sex therapy can be effective for ED that has psychological causes. But it is not an effective remedy if the cause of erectile dysfunction is physical.
- Vacuum pumps work for more than 90% of men with ED, but the process is somewhat unnatural intrusive, and even embarrassing.
- Testosterone supplements are only effective in very few men, where a hormone imbalance is the cause of ED.
- Penile implants – a mechanical device that is surgically inserted into the penis – is only used as a last resort. It is either permanently rigid or requires hydraulic action via a valve in the scrotum to “inflate”.
- “P Shots” involve extracting platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from the patients’ own blood and then injecting it into the penis with a needle. While the P Shot is a natural ED treatment, many men do not like having to get injections in their penis.
New BETTER Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Thanks to the advanced ED treatments offered at Better U Medical Spa there is an excellent chance that your erections can be restored safely, effectively, spontaneously and without dangerous side effects.
Alma Duo™ treats erectile dysfunction (ED) using focused, low-intensity, ‘extracorporeal’ (external) shockwave therapy (LI-ESWT) to improve blood flow to the penis by breaking up the plaque that is blocking the blood vessels. Alma Duo’s shockwaves also stimulate new blood vessels to form, resulting in improved and long-lasting blood flow to the penis. The result is natural occurring erections – without the need for pharmaceuticals.
LI-ESWT shockwave therapy was first used to break up kidney stones as far back as the 1980s. But clinical research soon demonstrated that the shockwaves also delivered anti-inflammatory benefits and promoted the formation of new blood vessels in the treated area.
Additionally, Alma Duo™ shockwave ED treatment is a comfortable, non-invasive, pain-free procedure. There are no needles or incisions – so (unlike P Shots) Alma Duo™ does not require any needles or anesthesia. The typical Alma Duo™ treatment only takes about 15 minutes to complete – and there is absolutely no downtime afterwards so patients can resume regular daily activities immediately after treatment.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Treatment | Fort Lee, NJ Area
If you are one of the millions of American men suffering from erectile dysfunction, you CAN get your sex life back!
Schedule a confidential consultation with Dr. Gor at our Englewood or Jersey City, NJ office to see if Alma Duo shockwave ED treatment is right for you.
