Radionics

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction - Diagnosis and Treatment Options

When you recognize you might have a problem with erectile dysfunction, you need to begin to consider what steps to take next.

Most men and their partners might decide to try to 'fix' things on their own through trying new sexual positions and trying new things to somehow stimulate their sex life.

This is a good way to begin. Often, men can reenergize their sex lives on their own, without any medical intervention.

But just as trying to conceive a child naturally isn't possible for some couples, sometimes erectile dysfunction just isn't something you can take care of on your own.

Signs You Need Medical Attention

Here are some signs you need to find medical attention:

• Avoidance of sex because of ED
When you're beginning to avoid sex because of your troubles with erectile dysfunction, it's time to start talking to your doctor. You should never feel as though your sex life has come to a halt because of this often easily treatable and manageable problem.

• Repeated attempts at erections without success
If you've tried on your own and with a partner to regain your ability to control your erections, but have not had any luck, it's time to find medical attention. When things that used to work in the past just aren't working anymore, it can be a sign of true erectile dysfunction and the need for intervention.

• Complete inability to maintain an erection
If your erections are simply nonexistent, it's time to start looking for outside help. Whether this happens every single time you have sex or every single time you try to masturbate – or both – you need to check to make sure there isn't something physically wrong with you and your health.

• Pain associated with sex
When sex becomes painful when you are trying to maintain and to control an erection, leading to ED or as a result of ED, it's time to find help.

• Relationship troubles as a result of ED
If erectile dysfunction is causing your relationship to begin to suffer, it's time to talk to someone about helping your erectile dysfunction.

Many men have troubles with talking to their doctors about this issue because they feel as though it shouldn't be an issue. Ever. But since erectile dysfunction is a part of many men's lives, it's time to dispel some of the societal ideas that surround ED and other sexual dysfunction.

Myths About ED

Myth #1: Men Should Never Have These Sorts Of Problems

You've already learned that erectile dysfunction is fairly common and certainly something that many men will face at one point or another in their lives. However, having erectile dysfunction problems does not make a man any less of a man.

Myth #2: Men Should Just Know How To have Sex

Men are often given the role of being in charge of their relationship's sex life, so they are often looked at as having all the answers when it comes to sex and controlling the sexual relationship.

As a result, it's thought that all men simply know how to have sex and how to correct issues when they come up. Thus, when something like erectile dysfunction comes into their lives, it's their fault for not being 'man' enough to know how to have sex. False. False. False.

Men, just like women, learn to have sex as they have romantic partners and through their own self-exploration. One is not born with the innate ability to have the perfect sexual relationship.

Myth #3: Men Always Want And Crave Sex

Though the media and many other sources might have you believe otherwise, men are not necessarily always looking for sex. This is something that can cause a man to feel pressure just as much as a woman might.

And this ideal can often lead to shame about problems with erectile dysfunction. After all, if you're having problems, you might not feel like having sex, which then complicates the 'ideal' that all men want and need to have sex.

Myth #2: It's Embarassing To Talk To Someone About Erectile Dysfunction

At first, sure, erectile dysfunction might be a little embarrassing to talk about, but that doesn’t mean it should be avoided.

There are plenty of ways to approach the subject in a simple and clear way without feeling as though you're being judged. Every man understands the fears of this dysfunction – you're not alone.

Myth #2: Erectile Dysfunction Is Just The Man's Problem

As you begin to explore the process of healing erectile dysfunction, you might begin to think it's just your fault or that it's just something you need to deal with on your own. This is also false.

Erectile dysfunction affects both members of a relationship, so both persons should be involved in the healing process.

Finding A Doctor For Your ED Questions

The first thing you need to do when you feel you have troubles with erectile dysfunction is to find a doctor that will be able to help. For most men, this will begin with talking to your general care doctor to see what they might have to offer in terms of advice and guidance.

You want to make sure, of course, that you feel comfortable enough with your doctor to be able to discuss your symptoms and your concerns openly. If you feel your doctor is unable (or unwilling) to listen to you, you might want to ask other male friends who they might recommend for further care.

The process of erectile dysfunction healing begins with this primary care doctor and here's what you can expect to be asked.

What Is Your Family History?

While family history does not necessarily tell you whether or not you will have troubles with erectile dysfunction, it can give your doctor an idea of health issues that you might be at risk for.

If you have a family history of heart or kidney troubles, for example, your doctor might want to do tests on these systems of your body to make sure your erectile dysfunction isn't an early symptom of serious problems.

Make sure to be honest about your family history, especially if you're not sure about certain members of your family. Before you head in for your appointment, you might want to check with your parents to see what kinds of medical issues they have had and what they were especially dealing with at your current age.

How's Your Health?

Here's the part where it is crucial you be upfront and honest with your doctor. You need to talk about all of your health habits, being honest and forthright.

When you are asked if you smoke, you need to be truthful.
When you are asked about drinking, you need to be truthful.

You might want to make a list of all of your recent health concerns to make sure you discuss them with your doctor right from the start. This will help you create a timeline of the events that led up to your erectile dysfunction to see if there are any signs or related issues that might give the doctor answers.

Remember, nothing is too small to mention.

What Else Is Going On In Your Life?

A good doctor will also be sure to note whether or not you've been going through major stressful situations. While the doctor may not be able to help you with these issues directly, knowing they might be factors in your erectile dysfunction can help to direct you to specific caregivers, like therapists.

Again, be honest as you talk to your doctor about your emotional state of mind. Your doctor needs as clear a picture as possible about what may or may not be contributing to erectile dysfunction.

What Have You Tried To Alleviate Your Erectile Dysfunction?

If you have been dealing with erectile dysfunction for a while now or you are suffering a recurrence of erectile dysfunction, you will want to talk to your doctor about what you have already tried on your own to get things working again.

Try to be as specific as possible to show the doctor what they can rule out in terms of potential treatment options as well as to help the doctor see what might be signaling the actual cause of the erectile dysfunction.

Have Any Methods Of Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Worked In The Past?

If you have been successful with any of your erectile dysfunction methods of treatment in the past, be sure to share this as well. For example, if you notice you don't have troubles with erectile dysfunction when you masturbate, but you do with your partner, that's a significant cause for concern.

Tests You Will Need To Take

When your doctor is trying to determine the root cause of your erectile dysfunction, you may need to undergo a battery of tests in order to get answers.

While some doctors will simply prescribe treatments until they find one that works, having these tests will help to narrow down the field of possible treatments before you start any regimens, thus speeding up the healing process.

Here are some of the tests you might need to take:

General Check Up

This might include everything from a blood pressure check to a weight check. These simple tests are painless and they will help your doctor get an overall impression of your health before they go further.

Blood Tests

Checking your blood levels can give your doctor a clear understanding as to whether you have troubles with your blood lipid levels and your overall health. These tests will measure everything from your HDL and LDLs to your liver enzymes and creatinine levels.

If part of your blood work is off, it can not only signal a potential cause for your erectile dysfunction, but it can also signal other health problems which may need to be addressed.

Urine Tests

Checking your urine will help your doctor determine if your kidneys are functioning properly, while also checking to be sure you don't have blood sugar issues.

Hormone Tests

If your erectile dysfunction also comes with problems with libido, you might need to have your testosterone levels checked. This is called a free testosterone test and it can be run on the blood that was taken for other tests.

Ultrasounds

By using an ultrasound wand, your doctor can also measure the amount of blood flow to the penis to see if there are any blockages or if there is any trouble in the artery structures.

The ultrasound is a painless procedure in which the wand is placed onto the penis and genital area and then moved around to measure different rates of blood flow.

At times, this test will be performed in the presence of a certain medication and then in the absence of a medication to measure changes in blood flow – if any.

Neurological Tests

When your doctor is concerned about nerve damage, you might need to have these sorts of tests. In most cases, all this requires is a physical examination in which your doctor will palpate the penis and the genital area to see if there are any nerves that aren't functioning correctly.

Psychosocial Tests

When your doctor suspects your erectile dysfunction might be caused by emotional difficulties, you might be given a questionnaire to fill out about your feelings about sex and about your partner.

Your partner might also be given this test to see how you both relate to each other sexually and in response to this erectile dysfunction issue.

DICC - Dynamic Cavernosometry And Cavernosography

After injecting a dye into the penis, the doctor can then watch the blood flow through the penis to see whether there are obstructions or not. A urologist is a specialist that might perform this tests and it only requires local anesthetic to prevent pain and discomfort.

Nocturnal Tumescence Test

If other tests are inconclusive or your doctor thinks your erectile dysfunction might be caused by non-physical issues, you might take the nocturnal tests.

This is actually a test you can do on your own as well.

By wrapping a piece of perforated (non-sticky) tape around the penis before you go to bed, you then go to sleep as normal and check to see if the tape has broken by the morning.

If the tape is broken, this might be a sign that you don't necessarily have troubles with the physical creation of an erection, but you might have other non-physical issues to address.

While this can seem like a long and complicated process of testing and checkups, all of these steps will help you and your doctor narrow down the possible causes of your erectile dysfunction so that you get the best possible treatment.

Beyond your family doctor, you might also be referred to a urologist who specializes in dealing with the physical issues surrounding the penis and other related areas and organ systems.
 

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