Millions of men across the world every year suffer from erectile dysfunction or ED problems. Unfortunately, only some of them end up having the confidence to freely talk about their issues and address them in the most rightful manner. Erectile dysfunction or ED, is one of the most common forms of sexual problems in men. So it becomes really important to have a clear understanding of such medical conditions in order to get the most appropriate treatment.Â
What is Erectile Dysfunction or ED?
Erectile Dysfunction, or ED, is a medical condition where men find it extremely difficult to attain a penile erection that is strong enough to be maintained for a considerable duration in order to have successful intercourse or enjoy sexual pleasure as much as desired.Â
What are the common Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction?Â
The symptoms or the ED problems faced by men are:
- A recurrent problem in getting a penile erectionÂ
- A recurrent problem in maintaining an erection for intercourseÂ
- A recurrent problem in having a much strong erectionÂ
- A recurrent problem in maintaining an erection for a longer duration in order to enjoy enough sexual pleasureÂ
- Loss of erection after penetration
- Unsatisfactory intercourse
Now that we know the basic ED problems, it is important to identify whether these symptoms are at all related to core and only erectile dysfunction or some associated undetected medical condition.  Â
How Do I know if I have Erectile Dysfunction Problem?
So, how to know whether you have Erectile Dysfunction problem or if it is some completely other medical issues manifesting through ED symptoms?Â
The answer lies in consulting an authorized medical practitioner and getting the right diagnosis of your current medical condition. It is extremely important to find out the correct reason or cause behind the ED symptoms that you are facing.Â
ED might be due to multiple reasons, which include some physical aspects as well as psychological ones. It should be cleared out here that ED itself can arise from other medical conditions, as mentioned below:
- Type 2 diabetes
- Coronary artery disease
- High blood pressure
- Sleep apnea
- Trauma to the pelvis post-surgery or radiation
ED can sometimes be confused with other sexual problems, which again may arise from various other reasons. There are enough possibilities that these problems can sometimes happen at the same time as ED. Let us see the other sexual problems that can coexist with Erectile Dysfunction problem:
- Low libido, which means a decreased interest or desire for sexual intimacy.Â
- Premature ejaculation is when ejaculation happens too soon after penetration.Â
- Delayed ejaculation is when ejaculation takes a long time after penetration.
- Anorgasmia when unable to orgasm despite sufficient stimulation.
It should be loud and clear to everyone that ED can sometimes occur parallelly with these other conditions, but they are not the same thing. In order to get the right diagnosis and treatment, it becomes extremely important to talk with an authorized healthcare expert about libido changes, erection patterns, ejaculation aspects, and other concerned parameters.Â
While ED itself might not be fatally dangerous to someone, it can be a warning sign for some other dangerous conditions, such as heart disease or diabetes, that can turn fatal. Nerve damage or plaque buildup may first affect the arteries and nerves in the penis, leading to ED. So to understand and detect such major concerns, one needs to make sure that he speaks out all of his uneasiness, medical history, daily medications, and supplements to a healthcare expert.Â
2 Most Important Points to Remember!
- ED is about having recurrent issues in getting and maintaining an erection, which is not the same thing as having decreased interest in sex or having difficulty experiencing orgasms.Â
- ED can be an early warning sign of other health conditions like diabetes or heart disease. It can also be a side effect of medication or related to anxiety or depression.Â
Prevention is Better than Cure!
The best way to prevent erectile dysfunction is to have a healthy lifestyle and manage any existing health conditions. Some simple/not-so-simple but crucial steps to follow:
- See your doctor for regular checkups and medical screening tests.
- Stop smoking, limit or avoid alcohol, and don’t use illegal drugs.
- Exercise regularly.
- Take steps to reduce stress.
- Get help for anxiety, depression, or other mental health concerns.
- Last but not least, manage your major or chronic health problems like diabetes, heart disease, etc., which become a major contributor to your ED problems.