What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (E.D.) is one of the three major types of sexual impotence in males. While the other two involve less than adequate sexual appetite and organic difficulties with ejaculation or orgasm itself, erectile dysfunction manifests as an inability to have, or keep, an erection.

Viagra is one of the most popular pharmaceutical treatments for E.D. Many of the body's systems work together to create an erection for the male. This process usually begins with either erotic thoughts or physical stimulation, such as touching. The endocrine system produces hormones that flow into the bloodstream. These hormones are necessary to begin the complicated process that ends with an erection.

A common misconception is that muscles in the penis become contracted and solid in order to create an erection. In fact, the opposite is true. The muscles must relax in order to allow blood to flow into the surrounding tissue, thus enlarging the penis and making it firm enough to become erect.

Drugs, injury, and disease are the three most common causes of E.D. While the prevalence of E.D. does increase as men age, the large majority of males do not suffer from the disorder. Another myth holds that most causes are psychological, when in actuality the overwhelming bulk of cases are physical. For men, that is good news because it means treatment is simpler, faster, and cheaper.

As social mores change, more and more men are seeking help with treatment and diagnosis. In the cases of psychologically caused disturbance, counseling helps most of the time. For physical causes, the preferred treatment is Viagra, or a similar drug. Some more serious cases require implantation of a vacuum or pump device directly into the penis.

If drugs and devices do not help, some instances of the malady require surgery to either the musculature or veins of the penis. One of the biggest problems for sufferers is the abundance of misinformation. At one time, even the medical community considered it mostly a psychological problem. Recent research has helped to burst that bubble and reveal the disorder to be mostly a physical problem that can easily be treated.

Moreover, while many men are embarrassed to seek treatment, things are changing. In the closing 15 years of the last century, from 1985 to 2000, doctor visits for E.D. jumped from 7 million to 21 million, mostly due to changing social attitudes. Since the debut of Viagra in 1998, treatment for E.D. has become as commonplace as visiting a dentist.