Erectile Dysfunction or Impotence

Information

Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, is the repeated inability to achieve or maintain a firm erection that lasts long enough for sexual intercourse. In most cases, men have erection problems in spite of their sexual desire and ability to have an orgasm. A tendency to sustain only brief erections is the obvious symptom of erectile dysfunction, which affects 15 to 30 million men only in the USA. Studies have shown that men may suffer from erectile dysfunction at any age and the problem usually has a physical cause. It may be damage to nerves, arteries, smooth muscles and loss of blood supply to the penis. In older men erection problems are commonly linked to other diseases and health problems (diabetes, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, high cholesterole, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism etc.). Smoking, drinking too much alcohol, sedentary lifestyle, stress and depression raise the risk of erectile dysfunction. As a matter of fact, erection problems may be even a side effect of the new medicine you take. The degree and nature of the problem can be defined after studying medical and sexual histories of a patient.

At present, erectile dysfunction treatment is effective for men of all ages. It has been significantly improved in the last 10 years, so that many men return to normal sexual activity with the help of new drugs and methods. Erectile dysfunction treatments may include psychotherapy, oral drug therapy, usage of special vacuum devices and, in some rare cases, surgery. As a rule, erectile dysfunction treatment proceed from least to most invasive methods. Sometimes even a few lifestyle changes work, but if they don't, doctors prescribe one of the newest oral medicine to treat erectile dysfunction: Viagra, Cialis or Levitra.

Viagra (sildenafil) was introduced the first, in March 1998. Later the Food and Drug Administration has approved another two erectile dysfunction drugs in tablet form: Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil). All three medicines have the same working principle: taken an hour before sexual activity, they block the enzyme phosphodiesterase-5, relax smooth muscles and increase blood flow in the erectile bodies of the penis. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra all belong to a group of erectile dysfunction drugs called "phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors". Each of these medicines has its own advantages, dosage and duration of effectiveness, but generally speaking all of them provide longer and improved erections for the men with erection problems. Studies found that they work successfully in about 70-83% of men with erectile dysfunction. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra should never be taken only by men with serious heart diseases, men who are taking drugs that contain nitrates or multiple drugs for high blood pressure.