If
you would like a consultation on this topic and the opportunity to purchase
private prescription medicine
then click on this
link:
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Erectile
Dysfunction - What You Need To Know
By
Dr Stephen Kegg
Sex
is a hugely important part of our lives. It is central not only to our loving
relationships but also directly affects our self-esteem and general well being.
When a man cannot achieve or maintain an erection it impacts on his sexual, work
and social lives. For too long this area of men’s health has been overlooked
and sexual difficulties have been accepted as part of the normal experience for
too many men.
Erectile
dysfunction is much more common than you would think. It is thought to affect up
to 2 million men in the UK alone. Often the first person you will approach will
be your GP. Try not to delay visiting him or her. Often they will have
experience in managing erectile dysfunction, or if not will be able to refer you
on to the appropriate service.
The
causes of erectile problems are complex and often involve a mixture of physical
and psychological causes. To complicate the picture, erectile dysfunction can
lead to depression, anxiety and poor health.
Uncommonly,
loss of erections can be a sign of diabetes or heart disease. This is one of the
reasons why you should try to get a check-up as soon as you can. Your doctor
will ask you about your current medications (as some of these can cause problems
with erections) and your general health. He or she will also need some
information about your current sex-life. Try to be as honest as you can. Often
the reaction of your partner to the problem and the other details of your
relationship may not seem very relevant but often they are. In most cases the
only examination you need is a straightforward look at the genitals and a
blood-pressure check. Very occasionally it may be necessary to run some hormone
tests but this is not very common.
There
are many treatments on offer and it is important that you and your doctor decide
on the type which is best for you, as “one size fits all” is truly not the
case. If you are only offered one type of treatment ask about the alternatives.
A
type of counselling called psychosexual therapy has been found to help between
50 and 80% of men. Clearly, you have to be motivated to work with the therapist
to determine the cause of the problem. Often this type of treatment can be used
together with another.
Sildenafil
(otherwise known as Viagra) is a tablet treatment which has received a great
deal of interest. It brought about improvement in erections in 50-88% in two
studies, acting over about one hour. Generally speaking it is very safe. An
exception to this are those men with heart disease or those taking drugs known
as nitrates. This drug is available on the NHS only to men with specific medical
conditions. If you do not fall into this category, ask your doctor about the
cost of prescribing the drug privately.
Drugs
called Prostaglandins can be directly injected into the penis. This is not as
bad as it sounds and you will be given full training in performing the
injections. Most men who use this type of treatment are very happy with it and
it is safe for nearly all men. You may get some mild discomfort when using this
method. Rarely, scar tissue can form within the penis.
A
similar type of drug (known as MUSE) can be inserted into the tube you pass
urine from. Again, it can cause some pain and men seem to prefer one of the
above two drugs as an alternative.
Vacuum
devices can be used by most men. These essentially suck the penis, drawing blood
into it until it is stiff. They can be a fiddle to use and are not as popular as
the above methods. They are not available on the NHS.
If
the above treatments are not a success, your doctor can refer you to a
Urological surgeon to consider a penile prosthesis. These are implants which are
placed inside the penis during an operation. They may be permanently partially
stiff, or involve a device which will allow you to inflate and deflate the
penis.
If
you would like a consultation on this topic and the opportunity to purchase
private prescription medicine
then click on this
link:
HealthExpress.co.uk consultation