ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

You can consult a doctor about erectile dysfunction online with Simple Online Doctors Australian registered online doctor and pharmacy service. You may complete an online assessment and brief consultation with Australian registered doctors who will evaluate your suitability.

Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability to gain or maintain an erection hard enough, or for long enough, to have sex. While nobody thinks this will affect them, it’s staggeringly common, with studies suggesting over 50% of men will be affected at some point in their lifetime. 

The most common erectile dysfunction symptoms include difficulty getting an erection, trouble maintaining an erection during sexual activity, or erections that are not firm enough for intercourse.

Other signs may include reduced sexual confidence, decreased sexual desire, or erections that occur less frequently than usual. These symptoms may occur occasionally or persist over time.

Fundamentally, an erection is blood flowing into the penis through a relaxed blood vessel, then becoming trapped by the closing of another vessel, hardening the penis. When the vessel opens, the penis once again softens.

While it is true that erectile problems are experienced more commonly in older men, this does not mean that they don’t occur in the young. In fact, a study found that ED affected 26% of men under 40 in some way. There can be several causes and factors that contribute to ED. These can be split into two main categories: Physical and Psychological.

Blood Vessel Health

Conditions that lead to a narrowing of blood vessels can lead to ED. These include heart disease, high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. ED may be the first sign of one of these conditions emerging; this is why we encourage all men, especially those over 40, to have a full GP checkup.

Lifestyle

Lack of fitness, lack of sleep, poor diet, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption can all lead to ED. The first thing any man should try to improve their ED is to try to address these factors.

Medical Conditions

A range of medical conditions are associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), including Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, hypogonadism (low testosterone), and diabetes. These conditions may impair erectile function through multiple mechanisms, including reduced libido, neurological dysfunction, and vascular health.

Prescription Medications

Unfortunately, some medications can affect blood flow and libido. As such, some can cause ED, such as those for depression, blood pressure, and hair loss. If you are taking these medicines, you must discuss your options with your GP.

Age

The chances of ED occurring increase with age due to higher rates of medical conditions, medicine usage, and or reduction in sex drive.

Anxiety

Increased stress and anxiety inside and outside the bedroom can result in ED. With the ever-increasing number of men developing anxiety for various work-related and social reasons, anxiety-related ED is increasingly common. Short-term anxiety-related erectile dysfunction should resolve once the anxiety does. However, for those who have long-standing anxiety, counselling and treatment for the underlying condition may be needed to overcome ED.

Depression

ED is more prevalent in men who are suffering from depression. It’s important if you feel like you might be depressed that you speak to your doctor about your symptoms. Mental health can greatly affect your ability to get an erection and underlying depression or anxiety may need to be treated to improve ED. 

There are several approaches to managing erectile dysfunction, depending on the underlying cause. 

Management may include:

• Lifestyle modifications
• Review and management of underlying medical conditions
• Psychological support for stress or anxiety
• Prescription options when clinically appropriate

A clinician will usually review your medical history, current medications, and lifestyle factors before recommending an appropriate management plan. The most suitable approach will vary between individuals and should be determined in consultation with a qualified healthcare professional. 

Treating ED isn’t always about drugs or devices; sometimes it’s a change in your lifestyle, which may help improve your ED. Changes such as:

Reducing Alcohol

Alcohol consumption can slow down or interrupt the signals of arousal from your brain to the body, resulting in ED. It can also cause dehydration, affecting the blood flow around the body, and affecting the ability to get an erection. This is commonly referred to as “whiskey dick”. Reducing the number of drinks, particularly if you are consuming over 21 standard drinks per week, can drastically improve erectile dysfunction not only on the days of drinking but also in general.

General Health and Fitness

Losing weight and improving fitness can greatly improve your sex life and ED. A raised BMI can increase your risk of ED by 30-90%. This is usually due to conditions associated with weight, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Increasing physical activity slightly to the recommended 30 minutes per day could improve your sex drive and erectile dysfunction. For professional assistance with weight loss, consider speaking to an accredited practising dietitian.

Ensuring you get an adequate amount of sleep is also important. Fatigue resulting from insomnia can greatly affect erection strength and quality.

Attempt to quit smoking or reduce the amount you smoke. Among the many other health benefits, it can result in improved circulation and erectile quality.

Management of Underlying Medical Conditions

Sometimes the best treatment for ED is going directly to the cause. This is often a medical condition that perhaps isn’t receiving the treatment it needs. 

High cholesterol can cause deposits of fat in blood vessels, which can cause trouble for blood following easily around the body, which can result in erectile problems. Treating the cholesterol with your doctor may result in improved blood flow and subsequently improve your ED.

Low testosterone can lead to a diminished sex drive, which can present as ED. Testosterone levels tend to peak at 18 and then reduce with age gradually. When levels get too low, it leads to both sexual and mental health problems. 

If you suspect this might be the reason for your ED, you must speak with your GP to get the levels tested and checked against the usual for your age. Treating low testosterone can improve your physical, sexual, and mental well-being.

Illicit Drugs

Much like alcohol, the consumption of illicit drugs can affect the brain’s communication with the body as well as drastically change blood pressure. This, in turn, can affect your ability to gain and maintain an erection effectively. If you believe your ED may be caused by drug use, you should get in contact with your GP for ways to decrease or cease use to improve your ED symptoms.

Pelvic Exercises

Pelvic floor exercises, also known as Kegels, result in the strengthening of the muscles around the penis. Strengthening these muscles can improve blood flow into the penis, which allows you to get erections more easily.

In many cases, erectile dysfunction can be treated or improved, particularly when the underlying cause is identified. For some men, lifestyle changes and management of medical conditions may significantly improve symptoms.

Others may benefit from prescription options, counselling, or a combination of approaches. The goal of management is to support both sexual function and overall health.

If you are noticing changes in your erections, speaking with a healthcare professional can help you better understand what may be contributing to it. Erectile dysfunction can have a range of underlying causes, including physical and psychological factors, and a doctor can provide an individual assessment to explore appropriate management options where suitable.