Mens Issues

Erectile Dysfunction

ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION is an age related disorder found exclusively in males. It is also called Male Impotence. It is abbreviated as ED. Erectile Dysfunction is a sexual malfunction of the penis in which the penis fails to develop or maintain the erection.

Medical profession studies and treats erectile dysfunction under Andrology (where Andro means male and Logy means study or discourse).Andrology is a subsection of Urology.

Erectile Dysfunction may occur due to two basic causes :

*** PSYCHOLOGICAL

*** PHYSIOLOGICAl

Erection is an hydraulic mechanism that depends on blood entering and retained in penis.Thus male erectile dysfunction may occur if flow of blood is impaired in the male organ. Neurologically male erection is controlled by the limbic system of the brain. Any problem over there may also lead to erectile dysfunction .One in every ten male experience recurring impotence problems at some point in there lives. Erectile dysfunction is a major impotence disorder.

As already mentioned it is a major psychological disorder as well, thus to check the effect certain psychological therapies are also practiced. In certain cases inert medicines are given to the patient in order to give them psychological relief. In most cases it gives them healing relief.In Medical Science such therapies are termed as Placebo effect.In placebo effect pharmacologically inert medicines are administered to fool the patient, but it sometimes have a rewarding effect.

Erection is an effect of the secretion of the endocrine glands called Hormones.Pituitary gland is called the Master gland because it controls the working of other endocrine glands.Pituitary secretes interstitial cell stimulating hormone that stimulates the testes to secrete Testosterone.If testosterone is not secreted to the adequate level or not secreted at all, erectile dysfunction may set in. Malsecretion of testosterone may occur due to malfunctioning of testes or the pituitary.

Major reasons for the erectile dysfunction may be summarised as follows:

*** Neurogenic disorder

*** Hormonal Disorder

*** Arterial Disorder

*** Mental Disorder

*** Ageing

*** Lifestyle

*** Obesity

Clinical tests available to diagnose such disorders are:

*** Duplex Ultrasound

*** Bubocavernosus reflex test to study function of the penile nerves. *** Angiogram.

Major therapies administered for the patients with such disorders are : *** Oral Medicines

*** Vacuum pumps

*** Hormone treatment

*** Surgery

*** Counselling.

A small advise. Those who feel that you may have such problem please visit a qualified medical professional. Visiting a quack for such tratment may lead to be a more problematic episode. Thus be very much aware.

Article Published: Wednesday 26th December 2007