Erectile Dysfunction

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual issue affecting men today. Erectile dysfunction means that it's difficult to achieve an erection or to keep an erection firm enough for satisfying sexual experiences. 

Having occasional erection difficulties doesn't necessarily mean you have erectile dysfunction. But, if you experience chronic issues with achieving and maintaining erections, your urologist may diagnose you with erectile dysfunction. 

What causes erectile dysfunction?

There are a number of possible underlying causes of erectile dysfunction, including:

• Inadequate blood flow to the penis
• Nerve damage in the penis 
• Stress or anxiety
• Hypertension
• Artery blockage
• Heart disease
• Diabetes
• Obesity

There are also many other possible causes of erectile dysfunction. In some cases, multiple factors contribute to the problem. 

Your Arizona Urology specialist performs a thorough analysis of your current and past medical issues, lifestyle, and other possible contributing factors to determine the reason for your erectile dysfunction, so they can prescribe a customized treatment.

How is erectile dysfunction treated?

Treatment of erectile dysfunction can vary based on the underlying cause. If the primary cause of your erectile dysfunction is emotional rather than physical, your urologist may recommend therapy with a mental health professional. 

Lifestyle changes, as recommended by your urologist, can often help relieve erectile dysfunction, especially when combined with other treatments. Lifestyle changes might include losing weight, giving up smoking, discontinuing alcohol use, and increasing exercise. 

Treatments can include:

• Oral medication
• Injected medication
• Intraurethral pellets
• Testosterone replacement therapy
• Vacuum devices
• Inflatable penile prosthesis

When nonsurgical treatments aren't effective, an inflatable penile prosthesis may be a good solution. Your urologist places the inflatable penile prosthesis surgically within your penis. 

To achieve an erection, you depress the pump, which is positioned beneath the scrotal sac. Then, you depress the deflation valve at the bottom of the pump to end the erection. 

Although an inflatable penile prosthesis doesn’t change your sexual desire in any way, it does allow you to achieve and maintain an erection whenever you’d like. 

Your Arizona Urology specialist offers discreet, compassionate, care for erectile dysfunction. To get the latest advanced erectile dysfunction treatments, reach out to the Arizona Urology location nearest to you today.