What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence, is the inability to sustain a satisfactory erection to perform intercourse and ejaculation.
It is estimated that 10 to 30 million men in the United States experience some form of erectile dysfunction. Over 50% of men aged 40 to 70 have experienced erectile dysfunction and this number increases with age. However, erectile dysfunction is not inevitable with aging, even into the 70s and 80s. Men can enjoy sexual activity throughout life, although the amount and force of ejaculation and muscular tension decrease.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Rarely is the cause of erectile dysfunction primary, meaning that a man has never been able to attain or sustain erections. Sponsored Links
Primary erectile dysfunction is almost always due to psychologic factors, such as sexual guilt, fear of intimacy, depression, and severe anxiety. It is rarely caused by biological factors such as low testosterone levels and other hormonal disorders.
Secondary erectile dysfunction occurs when a man who could previously attain and sustain erections no longer can. It is estimated that approximately 10% is due to psychologic factors.
1. Vascular disorders
Vascular disorders are the major cause of erectile dysfunction, particularly atherosclerosis, also called hardening of the arteries. With age and underlying disease such as hardening of the arteries or high blood pressure, arteries dilate and smooth muscle relaxation decreases, diminishing the amount of blood entering the penis. Diseases that worsen hardening of the arteries and increase the prevalence of erectile dysfunction include diabetes, smoking, and high blood pressure.
In addition to hardening of the arteries, venous leaks are another cause of erectile dysfunction. Venous leaks are the inadequate impedance of venous outflow.
2. Hormonal disorders
Hormonal disorders that can cause erectile dysfunction include elevated prolactin, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, and Cushings syndrome. The connection between testosterone and erectile ability is an area of current study.
3. Drugs
Drugs cause about 25% of cases of erectile dysfunction.
4. Neurologic disorders
Neurologic disorders that can cause erectile dysfunction include temporal lobe seizures, stroke, multiple sclerosis, sensory and autonomic dysfunction, and spinal cord injuries.
5. Other causes
Erectile dysfunction may be situational, involving a particular place, time, partner, a perceived competitive defeat, or damaged self-esteem. The psychologic factors that may accompany underlying physical causes of erectile dysfunction cannot be overlooked and must be considered. They may also be the cause or consequence of erectile dysfunction.
Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction
A general medical examination for erectile dysfunction will look at a history of drugs, alcohol, smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, and atherosclerosis, examination of the genitalia for fibrous bands or plaques (Peyronies disease), and evaluation for signs of vascular, hormonal, or neurologic disorders.
Lab procedures include blood glucose, thyroid function, and serum testosterone, both total and bioavailable (non-sex hormone-binding globulin-bound testosterone). Luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and prolactin levels may be helpful.
Patients are also screened for vascular disorders and depression.
The “Natural Viagra”
Arginine is known as “the natural Viagra” and is often recommended as a safe supplement for men who have trouble maintaining an erection long enough to engage in sex. Arginine increases blood flow to the penis and can increase sperm count, as well as help in treating male infertility.2
An erection occurs when blood rushes into the vessels of the penis, pumping up the penis to 2 or 3 times its flaccid size when nitric oxide gas (NO) is present. Erectile dysfunction is usually a result of the body not producing enough NO. Viagra and other similar medications work by supplying the penis with a blast of Nitric Oxide so more blood can surge in.
Researchers found that L-arginine also supplies Nitric Oxidie (NO) gas when it breaks down in the body. Research published in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated its powerful effect.
L-arginine is a great addition to your daily supplement program for enhancing erections because it provides many other positive health effects such as normalization of high blood pressure. While L-arginine will definitely help erections, it will not necessarily affect your sexual desire. That urge is dependent on two other biochemicals: testosterone, the male sex hormone; and acetylcholine, the brain chemical that sets the process in motion.