Can I cure erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition where men face difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection adequate for sexual intercourse. This can result from narrowed blood vessels, leading to insufficient blood flow to the penis, or impaired nerve function.

It is a common health condition, and is experienced by 50% of men between the ages of 40-70 and about 70% of men aged 70 and above.

There is no evident cure for ED. It has both psychological and physical factors which need to be understood for effective diagnosis and management for erectile dysfunction. Knowing the reason behind its occurrence can help determine the strategies to help improve it.

It has psychological and physical causes, psychological being the ones that if addressed may somewhat reverse the symptoms of dysfunction. Physical causes are more complex and are usually related to cardiovascular disease (heart disease, high blood pressure) which are the reason behind the insufficient blood supply to the penis. The physical causes usually require medical intervention.

It could be due to prostate related treatments or as a side effect to other medications used for different conditions. This is quite evident in individuals who had regular erectile function and suddenly developed dysfunction.

To improve erectile function it is important to address the underlying conditions causing the dysfunction.

Lifestyle Management of ED

Men with ED who may be overweight, need to incorporate a healthy diet and regular physical activity to lose some weight to ensure conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular diseases don't contribute to further worsening. A good diet and exercise regime can also act as prevention from developing issues with erectile function.

Studies have found that 30 minutes of physical activity a day was linked to 41% of a drop in risk of ED while others have found moderate exercise can help sexual performance in middle aged men. In a male aging study, it was discovered if natural foods like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains were consumed it can decrease the likelihood of developing ED.

Pelvic Floor Exercise for ED

Pelvic floor exercises are important for all individuals but specifically for those with weak pelvic floor muscles. Studies have found that strengthening the pelvic floor muscles may improve erectile function and overall sexual health.

Emotional Management of ED

In some cases ED symptoms may appear when individuals are undergoing times of high stress or anxiety. Stress could be related to job, finance or relationship problems which further contribute to a low sex drive which contributes to stress and back to symptoms of ED.

Anxiety could be a pre-existing condition or it may stem off stress causing symptoms of ED, making the male conscious resulting in performance anxiety. If this occurs frequently over a period of time it can develop into ED.

Feelings of depression can cause low self-esteem, which can lead to a loss of interest in sexual activity, further contributing to the stress of performance. Treating the above mental health factors can potentially help reverse the dysfunction; however, ongoing physiological support would be essential to completely treat ED of this form.

There are short term ED treatment options such as prescription drugs, sildenafil and tadalafil. These increase the blood flow to the penis for a short window of time and therefore are useful for planned sexual activity.

Some individuals may get ED due to low testosterone levels where the doctor will prescribe testosterone replacement therapy. Treatment options including lifestyle changes, medications or other interventions like penile implants.

If any male experiences persistent difficulty in erection problems they should consult a health professional to determine the underlying cause or medical condition.