In order to get an erection for sexual activity, there must be appropriate blood flow, nerve supply, and mental stimulation. Listed below are factors that adversely impact one or more of these phases in obtaining an erection, which will contribute to erectile dysfunction.

• Factors that negatively impact blood flow to penis

• • Heart Disease
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Vascular disease
  • Blood Pressure Medications
  • Ageing
  • Smoking
  • Obesity
  • Low Testosterone
• Factors that negatively impact nerve supply to penis
  • Diabetes
  • Pelvic surgery
  • Alcohol
• Factors that negatively impact mental stimulation
  • Low testosterone
  • Depression, anxiety, stress
  • Medications for depression, anxiety, stress

Getting diagnosed with ED is the first step toward reclaiming your sexual wellness and assuring that ED isn’t an underlying precursor to another disease process. From medical history reviews to specialized tests, understanding the diagnostic process can alleviate uncertainty and guide you toward tailored treatment plans.

• Discussion with Urologist: overall health assessment, past medical history, surgical history, and medications used will be addressed
• Blood Tests: glucose levels (HgA1c), testosterone
• Other Tests: penile ultrasound

With numerous treatment options available, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution for ED. Whether you opt for lifestyle adjustments or other therapies, exploring your options can empower you to find the approach that best suits your needs and preferences.

• Lifestyle Changes
  • Exercise: Regular exercise helps with blood flow and reduces stress.
  • Healthy Diet: A balanced diet supports your overall and penile health.
  • Decrease Smoking and Drinking: Both negativley affect your performance
• Counseling
  • Talking to a therapist can help manage stress or anxiety related to ED.
• Treatment Options
  • Pills: Viagra, Cialis, Levitra: Increase blood flow to penis
  • Testosterone Replacement Therapy: For patient with low testosterone at baseline
  • Vacuum Devices: Apparatus that draws blood into the penis
  • Penile ring: Placed around base of penis to maintain blood in penis
  • Injections: Patient injects medication directly into his penis
  • Penile Implant: Prosthetic device implanted into penis

ED is a source of frustration for the patient AND partner, and can strain the relationship from an intimacy standpoint. Supporting a partner with ED is difficult, but by fostering a supportive environment and exploring solutions together, the relationship can overall strengthen and overcome challenges that arise.

• Open Communication: Conversing openly about erectile dysfunction can address the issue of “why isn’t the patient performing appropriately”. If not properly communicated, the partner may feel the patient has lost attraction to him/her, however, the issue is the patient simply cannot perform, not that he doesn’t have the desire to.
• Patience: ED can be just as infuriating to the partner as it is to the patient. The partner may want to be sexually active now, but the patient cannot perform, which leads to frustration and potential loss of interest toward sexual activity. Once interest is lost, the sexual activity may cease altogether. By understanding that an ED treatment can be a process that takes time and practicing patience, sexual intimacy can return to the relationship once the ability to obtain an erection can be restored prior to this loss of interest.
• Empathy: Patients want to please his partner physically and emotionally, not just have an ongoing erection so he can constantly have sex. Understanding that getting erections again can help the patient mentally – this will help the partner appreciate why it’s important for the patient to have an erection. Also, rekindling physical intimacy can help other areas of intimacy of the relationship.