Erectile Dysfunction

If you are experiencing any of the following symptoms give us a call and arrange an appointment with our Doctors today;

• You cannot get an erection at all when you want sex
• You can get an erection, but it goes down before sex has finished
• Your libido (desire for sex) has noticeably diminished.

You should also contact us if:

• You have other health concerns alongside your erectile dysfunction.
• You have other medical conditions that you feel may be affecting your erections
• You have other symptoms that have developed recently together with erection problems

We are joined once again by David Mills who explains what erectile dysfunction is.

In these circumstances, consultation with a Urologist is essential so that the ED can be fully investigated. In many cases there is an underlying cause which may be manifesting in a problem with erections. Such conditions include diabetes and hypertension. Many medications can also inhibit erection quality.  If you have been prescribed a new medication, check the leaflet to see if this could be a factor.

Early onset erectile dysfunction should also be investigated. Modern screening may include a series of blood tests to check for key markers. An ultrasound of the penis can also check the blood flow to the area, a vital factor in erection quality.

Thankfully, there are a series of oral medications that can help with early onset erectile dysfunction. In many cases only a short course of medication may be required until the natural erections return on their own. For example, conditions such as depression, a bereavement can all have an effect on erection quality. Some assistance in these circumstances may go a long way until the patient feels better and erections begin to improve.

Oral medications include those that are taken just before sexual intercourse. Others are taken on a daily basis. These medications are the first line of defence to treat erectile dysfunction.

For many men they are able to improve the strength of the erections and they can successfully engage in sexual intercourse.

Over time, erectile dysfunction can, and often does, get worse. This could be because of a variety of factors. For example, as an associated medical condition gets worse oral medications stop working as well or stop working altogether. In many cases Doctors will then consider injections of prostaglandin. These are injections that you administer at home, just before you have sexual intercourse. When they work, they work spectacularly, inducing an erection in a matter of minutes.

Again, when the dose has been correctly calculated based on your personal requirements, this treatment will give you an erection every time. This is a popular treatment for erectile dysfunction where oral medication is not working.

The main drawback of this treatment is that you have to self-inject your penis. Not all men are comfortable with this prospect and the injections can be painful. Not only that, but the job of having to self-inject the penis half way through love making is a major interruption that some men find very difficult to work with.

When injections stop working, or when men refuse to consider them at all for the reasons we have mentioned, the next step up is an implant. These are considered the “end stage “of erectile dysfunction. For men who have had surgery for prostate cancer for example they are the only option as no other treatments are able to restore erections anymore. There are two types of penile implant, a malleable implant, and an inflatable implant. They work slightly differently but the fact remains the same for both that these are mechanical erections and spell the end for “natural” erections. This is why most Urologists will try and find ways to keep your natural erections in place for as long as possible. When you choose an implant there is no going back. Of course, when they are the right choice, they are a very good option to combat erectile dysfunction. You will never need to worry about not getting an erection anymore.

At the end of the day, most men experience some form of erectile dysfunction over the course of their lives. Thankfully, it’s a treatable condition and if you are struggling with your erections seek help without delay. First rule out any underlying conditions, this is really important, then focus on find the treatment that gets your erections back on track.

Your first port of call is probably your GP. The other option is to seek the help of a Urologist. A Urologist has specialist training in treating erectile dysfunction, from medications to penile implants.

If you suffer from existing medical conditions then it could be that these are starting to affect your erections. These include diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, to name a few.

The first line of treatment if you cannot get, or cannot sustain an erection are usually penis vacuum pumps, with or without oral medication. These can be very effective at boosting your erection quality. If you have tried these and they have not worked, or are starting to fail, then the next considerations could be injections. These are injections that you give yourself just before you have sex. Injections are not tolerated by everyone. They can interrupt sexual activity and some men do not want to inject their penis .

Where injections have failed, or men do not want to use injections, a penile implant could be an option. A penile implant is the “end-stage” of erectile dysfunction. When you have had an implant placed there is no going back to natural erections. Urologists will usually do everything they can to protect your natural erections before considering an implant.

If, together with your Urologist, you decide that a penile implant is the best option, then you can move forward knowing that you will always be able to get an erection when you want one. The erection will be hard enough for sexual intercourse.

As you can see, there is always an option to get your erections back on track if they are not what they used to be.