Erectile dysfunction (ED) means that you cannot get and/or maintain an erection. In some cases the penis becomes partly erect but not hard enough to have sex properly. In some cases, there is no swelling or fullness of the penis at all. ED is sometimes called impotence.
How common is erectile dysfunction?
Most men have occasional times when they cannot get an erection. For example, you may not get an erection so easily if you are tired, stressed, distracted, or have drunk too much alcohol. For most men, it is only temporary, and an erection occurs most times when you are sexually aroused.
However, some men have persistent, or recurring, ED. It can occur at any age, but becomes more common with increasing age. About half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 have ED. About 7 in 10 men aged 70 and above have ED.
What happens in Erectile Dysfunction?
When you are sexually aroused, messages from your brain travel down nerves to your penis. Chemicals called neurotransmitters are then released from the ends of the nerves in the penis. Stimulation of the penis can also cause local nerve endings to release neurotransmitter chemicals.
The neurotransmitters which are released in the penis cause another chemical to be made, called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This chemical causes the arteries in the penis to widen (dilate). This allows extra blood to flood into the penis. The rapid inflow of blood causes the penis to swell into an erection. The swollen inner part of the penis also presses on the veins nearer to the skin surface of the penis. These veins normally drain the penis of blood. So, the flow of blood out of the penis is also restricted, which enhances the erection.
Once you stop having sex, the level of cGMP falls, the blood flow to the penis returns to normal, and the penis gradually returns to the non-erect state.
What should I do if I develop symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction?
It is best to see a GP as soon as possible. He or she is likely to discuss the problem, go over any medication you may be taking, and do a physical examination. This can help to identify or rule out possible underlying causes. Before treatment, your GP may suggest some tests.
Which tests may get done?
Depending on your symptoms, likely cause of the ED, age, etc, your doctor may suggest that you have some tests. These are mainly to check up on any risk factors listed above which increase the risk of developing narrowing of the arteries. Tests may include:
A blood test to check the level of cholesterol and other fats (lipids).
Blood sugar level.
Blood tests to rule out kidney and liver disease.
A urine test.
A check of your blood pressure.
A heart tracing (ECG).
Other heart tests which are sometimes done, where appropriate, if heart disease is suspected.
If you have a low sex drive, or if you have had a previous head injury, ED may be due to a hormonal problem. In this situation a blood test to check the level of the hormone testosterone (and sometimes prolactin) may be advised.
In a small number of cases, tests to check the way the blood circulates through the penis, using scans or drug injections, may be done in hospital clinics.
What are the treatment options?
A referral to a specialist is sometimes needed for assessment and treatment. However, GPs are now treating more cases of ED than previously, as the treatment options have improved in recent years. Your GP is more likely to suggest referral if you have been found to have an hormonal problem, if the cause is related to another condition like circulatory problems, or if you are young and the condition started after an injury.
The following gives a brief summary of treatment options. There is a good chance of success with treatment. There are pros and cons of each treatment, and your doctor will advise further. If you’re embarrassed about seeing your doctor in person, you could try a confidential, free online consultation to assess whether you’d be suitable for a private prescription
Have you considered your other medication?
As mentioned, some medicines can cause ED. Check the leaflet that comes with any medication that you take to see if ED is a possible side-effect. Do not stop any prescribed medication, but see your doctor if you suspect this as the cause. A switch to a different medicine may be possible, depending on what the medicine is for.
Medication (tablets taken by mouth)
In 1998, the first tablet to treat ED was launched. This made a huge impact on the treatment of ED. For treating ED, tere are now four different tablets licensed in the UK:
Three of the tablets work by increasing the blood flow to your penis. They do this by affecting cGMP, the chemical involved in widening (dilating) the blood vessels when you are sexually aroused (described above). They are sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra). You take a dose before you plan to have sex. Because of the way they work, these medicines are called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors.
So, even if the nerves or blood vessels going to your penis are not working so well, a tablet can cause the blood flow to increase in your penis, and cause an erection. Tablets can treat ED caused by various underlying conditions.
Note: none of these tablets will cause an erection unless you are sexually aroused.
There is a good chance that a medicine will work (about an 8 in 10 chance of it working well). However, they do not work in every case. There are pros and cons for each of the above, and your doctor will advise. For example, you may not be able to take certain tablets for ED if you have certain other medical conditions or take certain other medicines.
Other methods of treating Erectile Dysfunction
Injection treatment
This was the most common treatment before tablets became available. It usually works very well. You are taught how to inject a medicine into the base of the penis. This causes increased blood flow, and an erection usually develops within 15 minutes. (Unlike with tablets, the erection occurs whether of not you are sexually aroused.)
Urethral medication
You can place a small pellet into the end of the urethra (the tube which passes urine and opens at the end of the penis). The pellet contains a similar medicine to that used for the injection treatment. The medicine is quickly absorbed into the penis to cause an erection, usually within 10-15 minutes.
Vacuum devices
There are several different devices. Basically, you put your penis into a plastic container. A pump then sucks out the air from the container to create a vacuum. This causes blood to be drawn into the penis and cause an erection. When erect, a rubber band is placed at the base of the penis to maintain the erection. The plastic container is then taken off the penis and the penis remains erect until the rubber band is removed (which must be removed within 30 minutes).
Penile prosthesis
A surgeon can insert a rod permanently into the penis. The most sophisticated (expensive) type can be inflated with an inbuilt pump to cause an erection. The more basic type keeps the penis rigid all the time.
7 reasons to get in touch with us at Regent Street Clinic to discuss Erectile Dysfunction
1. We are a private clinic so you can talk to us with total discretion and confidentiality.
2. Our Erectile Dysfunction clinic is doctor-led with access to Consultant Urologists to oversee and manage each case and to ensure the very best care and optimal results.
3. We offer same day appointments with experienced doctors who will investigate and treat.
4. We arrange health check ups and screening blood tests as part of the work up for Erectile Dysfunction.
5. Follow-up and further supplies of medication can be arranged with ease.
6. We have in-house Cognitive and Behavioural Therapists (CBT) to address any psychogenic underlying issues.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There are several causes which tend to be grouped into those that are mainly physical and those that are mainly due to mental health (psychological).
Physical causes:
About 80% of cases of ED are due to a physical cause.
Causes include:
Reduced blood flow to the penis.
This is, by far, the most common cause of ED in men over the age of 40. Like in other parts of the body, the arteries which take blood to the penis can become narrowed. The blood flow may then not be enough to cause an erection. Risk factors can increase your chance of narrowing of the arteries. These include getting older; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; smoking.
Diseases which affect the nerves going to the penis.
For example, multiple sclerosis, a stroke, Parkinson’s disease, etc.
Diabetes.
This is one of the most common causes of ED. Diabetes can affect blood vessels and nerves.
Hormonal causes.
For example, a lack of a hormone called testosterone which is made in the testes. This is uncommon. However, one cause of a lack of testosterone that is worth highlighting is a previous head injury. A head injury can sometimes affect the function of the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland makes a hormone that stimulates the testis to make testosterone. So, although it may not at first seem connected, a previous head injury can in fact lead to ED.
Other symptoms of a low testosterone level include a reduced sex drive (libido) and changes in mood. Injury to the nerves going to the penis. For example, spinal injury, following surgery to nearby structures, fractured pelvis, radiotherapy to the genital area, etc.
Side-effect of certain medicines.
The most common are some antidepressants.
Alcohol and drug abuse.
Cycling.
ED after long-distance cycling is thought to be common. It is probably due to pressure on the nerves going to the penis, from sitting on the saddle for long periods. This may affect the function of the nerve after the ride.
Excessive outflow of blood from the penis through the veins (venous leak).
This is rare but can be caused by various conditions of the penis.
In most cases due to physical causes (apart from injury or after surgery), the ED tends to develop slowly. So, you may have intermittent or partial ED for a while, which may gradually get worse. If the ED is due to a physical cause, you are likely still to have a normal sex drive apart from if the cause is due to a hormone problem.
In some cases, ED causes poor self-esteem, anxiety, and even depression. These reactions to ED can make the problem worse.
Erectile Dysfunction and cardiovascular disease
Erectile dysfunction, heart disease and other vascular diseases.
Although ED can be caused by various conditions, about 70% cases are due to narrowing of the small arteries in the penis. This causes reduced blood flow to the penis. This is the same problem that can occur in other blood vessels. For example, narrowing of the blood vessels in the heart (the coronary arteries) is a cause of angina and other heart problems.
Narrowing of blood vessels to the brain is a risk factor for having a stroke. Narrowing of blood vessels in the legs can cause peripheral arterial disease.
The root cause of the narrowing of the arteries is caused by atheroma. Atheroma is like fatty patches or plaques that develop within the inside lining of arteries. (This is similar to water pipes that get furred up with scale.)
Plaques of atheroma may gradually form over a number of years in one or more places in the body, commonly in arteries going to the heart, brain, legs and penis. In time, these can become bigger and cause enough narrowing of one or more of the arteries to cause symptoms and problems.
Certain risk factors increase the risk of more atheroma forming which can make atheroma-related conditions worse. These are discussed in more detail in a separate leaflet called Preventing Cardiovascular Diseases.
Briefly, risk factors that can be modified and may help to prevent atheroma-related conditions from getting worse are:
Smoking
Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for developing an atheroma-related condition. Smoking roughly doubles your chance of developing ED. Young smokers may not be aware that they have a much greater risk of developing ED by middle age compared with non-smokers. If you smoke, make every effort to stop.
High blood pressure
Make sure your blood pressure is checked at least once a year. If it is high, it can be treated.
Obesity
If you are overweight, losing some weight is advised.
High cholesterol
This can be treated if it is high.
Inactivity
We should all aim to do some moderate physical activity on most days of the week for at least 30 minutes. For example, brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing, gardening, etc.
Diet. Aim to eat a healthy and well balanced diet.
Alcohol excess
Diabetes
If you have diabetes, good control of the blood sugar level and blood pressure can help to minimise the impact of diabetes on the blood vessels.
Note: ED caused by narrowed arteries commonly develops several years before any symptoms or problems develop due to narrowing of the heart (coronary) arteries (or other arteries).
Therefore, ED is thought of as an ‘early warning signal’ that heart disease (or other cardiovascular diseases) may develop. A large international study found that men with ED are twice as likely to have a heart attack, 10% more likely to have a stroke and 20% more likely to be admitted to hospital with heart failure. This is why some of the tests listed below may be advised if you develop ED. Also, you are likely to be advised by your doctor on how to modify any risk factors listed above. The aim is to prevent heart disease and other cardiovascular disease from developing.
Psychogenic caused of Erectile Dysfunction
Mental heath (psychological) causes
Various mental health conditions may cause you to develop ED. They include:
Stress – for example, due to a difficult work or home situation.
Anxiety.
Relationship difficulties.
Depression.
Typically, the ED develops quite suddenly if it is a symptom of a mental health problem. The ED may resolve when your mental state improves – for example, if your anxiety or depression eases. However, some people become even more anxious or depressed when they develop ED. They do not realise it is a reaction to their mental health problem. This can make matters worse and lead to a vicious circle of worsening anxiety and persisting ED.
As a rule, a psychological cause for the ED is more likely than a physical cause if there are times when you can get a good erection, even though most of the time you cannot. (For example, if you can get an erection by masturbating, or wake up in the morning with an erection).
Treating the underlying condition
For example, treating depression, anxiety, changing medication, cutting back on drinking lots of alcohol, or treating certain hormonal conditions may cure the associated ED.