Erectile Dysfunction

What are the symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction?

An occasional inability to achieve an erection is normal. But the inability to reach or sustain an erection more than half of the time, at any age, indicates erectile dysfunction. Other symptoms may include decreased sexual desire and less rigid erections.

What causes Erectile Dysfunction?

There are various physical and psychological issues that can result in poorer erectile function. These include, but are not limited to:

• Increasing age
• Diabetes
• Diet that is unhealthy
• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Low testosterone
• Peyronie’s disease (penile curvature)
• Stress/mental health issues
• Certain medications
• Side effects from treatments for other diseases such as prostate cancer

How is Erectile Dysfunction diagnosed?

During your visit, your doctor will ask about your medical history and may examine your abdominal and genital area. You’ll be asked about situations when you have difficulty obtaining erections, presence of morning/overnight erections, and any prior surgery or radiation.

It is essential to provide a detailed history of medication and drug use since nearly 25% of ED cases can be attributed to medications for other conditions.

Tests that may be performed during or after your visit:

• Blood tests to determine testosterone level may be obtained
• Urinalysis: to determine amount of protein and sugar in the urine. Abnormal measurements of these substances can indicate diabetes or kidney disease, which can cause ED.

How is Erectile Dysfunction treated?

NON-SURGICAL TREATMENTS

• Lifestyle changes: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is the best way to prevent ED. This includes maintaining a healthy weight, controlling blood pressure and blood sugars, limiting alcohol, stopping smoking, and exercising regularly.
• Medications: Several drugs including Viagra, Levitra, Stendra, and Cialis can improve blood flow to the penis to enhance your erection in response to sexual stimulation. Certain drugs require you to take them within a specific time period before sex. Others should not be taken at all if you have high blood pressure or chest pain. Consult your pharmacist for specifics on these drugs.
• DUOLITH Therapy: Using a hand-held wand that delivers gentle energy pulses, DUOLITH stimulates penile tissue to increase the blood flow needed to improve erectile function and rigidity. This therapy is painless, requires no downtime, long-lasting, and involves just one 30-minute treatment each week for about six weeks. DUOLITH treatment is delivered at our REDEEM Center.
• Injection therapy:  Self-injection of a medication into the base of your penis often can lead to satisfactory erections. Erections should start within 10 min and should not last more than 1 hour. For erections lasting more than 4 hours, you must contact your physician immediately or go to the emergency room.
• Urethral suppository: This treatment involves placing a small suppository into the tip of your penis to improve blood flow to the penis. Erections start within 10 min and typically do not last more than 1 hour. The most common side effect is penile pain or minor bleeding.
• Penile pump:  This hand-powered vacuum erection device works by pulling blood into the penis. Once erect, a ring is placed over the base of the penis (do NOT keep ring on penis for more than 30 minutes). These erections tend not to be as firm, can result in bruising, may be cold to the touch, and ejaculation will be obstructed from the restriction band.

SURGICAL TREATMENTS

• Penile Implant: Cylinders are surgically implanted into your penis, as is a pump in your scrotum and a reservoir of fluid in your abdomen. This provides you the ability to inflate the device to create an erection and deflate the device when you no longer want an erection (leaving the penis in a more natural state). The implant allows for a consistent erection and has a patient/partner satisfaction rate of more than 90%.
• A different type of implant consists of surgically inserted rods, which keeps the penis erect. You can adjust the position of the penis and, therefore, the rods for intercourse, then position it downward afterwards. Adjustment does not affect the width or length of the penis.