According to U.S. data, more than half of all men over 40 have experienced erection difficulties of varying degrees. And nowadays, not only middle-aged and old men, more and more young men also begin to appear similar situation. This situation not only affects the relationship between couples, but also puts many men into anxiety. So what causes these problems? Is there any effective treatment? Let’s find out below.
What is male sexual dysfunction?
Male sexual dysfunction is not a separate disease, but a collective term for many problems. For example, there is no sexual desire, aversion to sex, too strong of a sexual urge, inability to get a normal erection, ejaculating too quickly, inability to ejaculate, or an erection that doesn’t last for the right amount of time, to name a few. If a man is unable to complete the process successfully or experience satisfaction during sex, it may be a form of sexual dysfunction.
What are the common causes of erectile dysfunction?
The causes of erectile difficulties can be broadly categorized into two groups: physical problems and psychological problems, or sometimes a mixture of both.
Physical causes:
- For example, previous genital injuries, after-effects of surgery (e.g. circumcision), prostatitis, or old age
- Some chronic diseases can also affect erectile function, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and heart disease
Psychological reasons:
- Suffering from anxiety, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses
- Lack of correct understanding of sexual behavior
- Conflicts between husband and wife, such as the woman’s lack of cooperation or ridicule of men, also tend to make men subconsciously nervous or resistant to sex, thus affecting erection
Is self-testing reliable?
Nowadays, there are a lot of sexual dysfunction “self-tests” on the Internet, but experts do not recommend men to rely on these tests. Because sexual function problems are often complex, it is difficult to judge them clearly by questionnaires alone. Moreover, the scope of the self-test is limited, so it is easy for people to misjudge the condition and delay the best time for treatment.
The right thing to do is to go to the hospital for a formal examination, for example:
- The doctor will ask you whether you have natural erection in the morning or at night
- Check the level of male hormone in your body
- An ultrasound will be done to see if the blood flow is smooth.
If the situation is complicated, the doctor will also recommend you to stay in the hospital for more in-depth examination such as night erection test.
How to cure erectile dysfunction? It’s important to find the cause first
Because the causes of erection problems are different, treatments will vary. For example:
- If there is a deformity in the genitals, surgery may be needed to treat it;
- If it is caused by diabetes, you need to get your blood sugar under control first;
- If it is caused by taking certain psychotropic medications, it is necessary to talk to a psychiatrist to see if the medication can be changed or the dosage adjusted.
Therefore, the treatment should be decided in the light of the patient’s physical condition, psychological state and family environment and many other aspects, and cannot be generalized. Only when the right cause is found will the treatment be effective.
Don’t blindly take “aphrodisiacs” or listen to traditional remedies.
Many men feel embarrassed to go to the hospital to check their sexual problems, so they buy some “aphrodisiacs” to eat. This practice is very dangerous! Because you don’t know what’s wrong with you, and you don’t know if the medicine is right for you. Taking the wrong medicine, not only can not cure the disease, but may make the condition become serious.
The expert made an analogy:
“It’s like when you have a cough and just go buy cough medicine to eat, if it’s a common cold, it may work. But if it is pneumonia, tuberculosis, and then how to eat cough medicine is useless, but delayed treatment.”
In addition, some people online say that eating oysters, celery, some Chinese medicine prescription can “tonic kidney aphrodisiac”, but these claims have no scientific basis. Some recipes even add hormones or other unknown drugs, long-term eating will affect your health. Formal hospitals will confirm whether these foods are really effective through professional tests, and it is not recommended to try them blindly.
Treating erection problems requires the cooperation of husband and wife.
The recovery of erectile function is not only the doctor’s job alone, the communication between the patient and his partner is also very important. Sexual behavior is actually a comprehensive activity involving the body, mind and emotions. In the process of treatment, the understanding and support of the partner can bring great help to the patient. Normally, you can communicate more and learn more about sex to reduce misunderstanding and pressure, which is very helpful in restoring sexual function.
Summary
Erectile dysfunction in men is a very common problem and not a “secret” that is hard to talk about. Understanding the cause, timely treatment, and partner’s understanding and cooperation are the keys to solving the problem. Don’t blindly use medication or believe in “magic remedies” on the Internet, the right way is to go to the hospital to see a professional doctor for examination and treatment. Only when the real cause is found, can we have good treatment results.