The topic of erectile dysfunction (ED) is still one that leaves most men searching for the door.
Even in the privacy of a doctor’s office, many men in the U.S. are afraid of what that diagnosis might mean for them. Despite these natural fears, it is very important for men and their partners to take erectile dysfunction seriously and to get help.
According to the Mayo Clinic, up to 30 million men in the U.S. suffer from erectile dysfunction. What many men do not realize is that erectile dysfunction is a systemic problem and can be an early sign of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and other physical ailments. The penis serves as the barometer of a man’s overall health, with dysfunction often acting as a precursor for other existing or potential health issues. Even mild symptoms of ED can mean that there are issues in other parts of a man’s body.
For many men, oral medications are a viable treatment option, but in others they may not be effective or can pose dangerous health risks. Men with health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancer, and kidney or liver problems often find erectile dysfunction to be an upsetting symptom. Yet, for many of these same men, oral medications are often less effective and more likely to cause intolerable side effects. Many men who cannot take oral medications have found success with intracavernous pharmacotherapy (ICP) – a small and minimally invasive injection of a combination of FDA-approved medications that can produce an erection within minutes.
Other alternatives include intraurethral suppository, prepared in the form of a pellet that is inserted into the urethra via an applicator; and vacuum suction devices (a battery or manually operated cylindrical pump that fully encloses the penis). Doctors who specifically deal with sexual dysfunction issues, such as physicians with Boston Medical Group, can identify underlying issues that may be causing your ED, as well as provide you with an effective treatment option.
Just because you are dealing with erectile dysfunction, doesn’t mean you can’t have a fulfilling sex life. After all, sex is an important part of your overall physical, psychological and emotional health. What’s more, maintaining sexual health goes beyond managing other health problems – it supports overall health well into old age.