Erectile Dysfunction is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. ED can be a total inability to achieve an erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections.
Black men are more likely to experience ED than any other race.
Harvard Medical School says ED can possibly be a sign of something more serious, such as heart disease and since 44% of African American men have heart disease, this makes ED much more likely to occur.
ED; Impotence
ED is most often caused by health problems that require treatment to help prevent more serious complications. Some of the problems that can cause ED are:
Symptoms related to erectile dysfunction may include:
A person’s medical and sexual histories help define the degree and nature of ED. The medical history can disclose diseases that lead to ED, and a simple recounting of sexual activity might identify problems with sexual desire, erection, ejaculation, or orgasm. Use of certain prescription or illegal drugs can suggest a chemical cause because drug effects are a frequent cause of ED.
Physical Examination
A physical examination can give clues to systemic problems. For example, if the penis is not sensitive to physical touch, a problem in the nervous system may be the cause.
Laboratory Tests
Several laboratory tests can help diagnose ED. Tests for systemic diseases include blood counts, urinalysis, lipid profile, and measurements of creatinine and liver enzymes.
Other Tests
Monitoring erections that occur during sleep-nocturnal erections-can help rule out certain psychological causes of ED. Healthy men have involuntary erections during sleep. If nocturnal erections do not occur, then ED is likely to have a physical rather than a psychological cause.
Psychosocial Examination
A psychosocial examination, using an interview and a questionnaire, can reveal psychological factors. A man’s sexual partner may also be interviewed to determine expectations and perceptions during sexual intercourse.
Lifestyle changes-including exercising more, quitting smoking, losing weight, and cutting back on alcohol-may solve the problem. If you have made these changes and still have erection problems, your doctor can offer a number of other treatments.
Treatment may include:
Complications resulting from erectile dysfunction can include:
A family doctor is a good place to start when you have erectile problems.
See your doctor if:
The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction is to make healthy lifestyle choices and to manage any existing health problems you have.
Here are some things you can do:
(BlackDoctor.org) — Learn more about the cause of erectile dysfunction to overcome this sensitive condition. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may be helpful:
What You Need To Know:
• Quit smoking Men who smoke have an increased ED risk
• Check out Asian ginseng 900 mg of a concentrated herbal extract two or three times a day may improve libido and ability to maintain erection
• Give ginkgo a go Take 240 mg a day of a standardized herbal extract to increase blood flow to the penis
• Try yohimbe and DHEA With the help of a doctor experienced in these treatments, take an herbal extract of yohimbe containing 15 to 30 mg a day of yohimbine to increase blood flow, or 50 mg a day of the supplement dehydroepiandrosterone to improve hormone levels
• Get a checkup ED can be caused by some diseases and may be a side effect of certain medications
• Consider counseling Psychological issues can be a cause, or an effect, of ED
These recommendations are not comprehensive and are not intended to replace the advice of your doctor or pharmacist. Continue reading the full erectile dysfunction article for more in-depth, fully-referenced information on medicines, vitamins, herbs, and dietary and lifestyle changes that may be helpful.
