In many cases, ED is treatable. A range of effective treatments can restore sexual function, thereby improving satisfaction in a relationship. A doctor can help couples understand their options, and they will often encourage both partners to attend appointments.
Talk to your partner in a loving, supportive way to communicate that there's an issue with your sex life. For example, you can say, “Honey, you're the greatest thing in my life. I love you, and because of that, I trust we can discuss this problem.”
When you have trouble achieving or maintaining an erection with a partner, it can be embarrassing – especially if it is happening for the first time. When something like this happens, it is easy to close yourself off and wallow in your worry and self-pity.
Does ED mean my partner doesn't desire me? Relationship issues can contribute to ED — the brain is the most powerful sexual organ, and certainly that's a part of it. But most of the time, ED does not mean that your partner is less interested.
Men: Think of your penis as the canary in the coal mine. It can signal health problems beyond your genitals. Men who have trouble getting and maintaining erections should see a doctor, says Culley C.
Physical issues like heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking can all cause erectile dysfunction. On the other hand, depression, anxieties, stress, relationship problems, and other mental health concerns can also interfere with sexual feelings.
Using oral medication
You can get quick results through oral medications such as Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, Staxyn, or Stendra. These pills boost blood flow to the penis during sexual arousal, making it possible to achieve an erection that is firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
In many cases, yes, erectile dysfunction can be reversed. A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine found a remission rate of 29 percent after 5 years. It is important to note that even when ED cannot be cured, the right treatment can reduce or eliminate symptoms.
The biggest risk of allowing erectile dysfunction to remain untreated is an underlying medical issue advancing. For example, if a man develops erectile dysfunction as a symptom of heart disease, other symptoms may begin to appear rapidly, eventually complicating treatment and putting the man's life at risk.
Whilst a handy tool for making erections easier, Viagra is far from a cure. For it to have an effect you will need to take it every time you want an erection, which can become expensive over time and do damage to spontaneity.
Myth: ED simply means I'm not attracted to my partner
Fact: It's true that not being sexually attracted to your partner can make it more difficult to get and sustain an erection. But a lack of sexual attraction does not cause ED. Erectile dysfunction usually has roots in a physical or emotional disorder.
Kissing, caressing, genital touching and oral stimulation are all effective ways to experience sexual pleasure regardless of an erection. The tongue is the second most orgasmic part of the body. Even the most impotent man can use his tongue fine. As with all skills, practice makes perfect.
Since ED can cause low libido, and low libido can cause ED, breaking the cycle can be difficult. It's normal for ED to create feelings of anxiety and low esteem. Even a single experience with ED can undermine a man's confidence, creating worry about future dysfunction.
ED can cause a man to feel anger, frustration or sadness, or to lack confidence. Discover how to deal with these emotions, manage relationship problems, and have a fulfilling sex life despite erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction takes more than a physical toll.
While Viagra does not work for everyone, up to 70% of people with ED and their providers have reported that it helps with sexual performance. As for using it recreationally, some men report improved sexual performance, but one study showed that there is no improvement in sexual function for men without ED.
Pfizer, the company that manufactures this drug, has confirmed that the typical Viagra user is on average 53 years old. The company does not keep records of users younger than 33 years. The drug should not be used in young men who do not have erection problems.
Less than 2% of men with erection problems reported their symptoms first started before the age of 40. Only 4% reported symptoms of ED starting between 40 and 49 years of age. About 1 in 4 said their ED symptoms started between the ages of 50 to 59. Two in five men reported their symptoms started between age 60 and 69.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) can last a few months to years. Depending on the underlying cause, you may have ED for the rest of your life. According to the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM V), your erectile problems need to occur for at least six months to count as ED.
Erectile dysfunction is a very common condition, particularly in older men. It is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 will have it to some degree.