Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is a condition that affects all men at some or the other time in their life. Commonly known as impotence, (ED) happens when a man is unable to achieve and maintain an erection long enough to have satisfactory sex.

How to determine if you are suffering from erectile dysfunction –

You may be suffering from erectile dysfunction if you fulfil one or more of following condition:

• Occasional inability to obtain a full erection
• Inability to maintain an erection throughout intercourse
• Complete inability to achieve an erection

Erectile dysfunction can occur due to various reasons – hereditary, psychological, physical, mental, drug side effects or even accidental. It can be either temporary or permanent. Temporary ED normally occurs when you are stressed out due to tension at work or at home. It can happen due to differences with your spouse or when you temporarily lose confidence in your own abilities. Such impotence may correct itself over time or through treatment.

• Physical diseases and disorders. Chronic diseases of the lungs, liver, kidneys, heart, nerves, arteries or veins can lead to impotence. So can endocrine system disorders, particularly diabetes. The accumulation of deposits (plaques) in your arteries (atherosclerosis) also can prevent adequate blood from entering the penis. And in some men, erectile dysfunction may be caused by low levels of the hormone testosterone (male hypogonadism).
• Surgery or trauma. Damage to the nerves that control erections can cause erectile dysfunction. It may result from an injury to the pelvic area or spinal cord. Surgery to treat bladder, rectal or prostate cancer also can result in erectile dysfunction. Prolonged bicycle riding also can cause a temporary problem.
• Medications. A wide range of drugs — including antidepressants, antihistamines and medications to treat high blood pressure, pain and prostate cancer — can cause erectile dysfunction by interfering with nerve impulses or blood flow to the penis. Tranquilizers and sleeping aids also may pose a problem.
• Substance abuse. Chronic use of alcohol, marijuana or other drugs often causes ED and decreased sexual drive. Excessive tobacco use also can damage penile arteries.
• Stress, anxiety or depression. Psychological conditions also contribute to some cases of erectile dysfunction.

Permanent ED on the other hand can happen due to any of the reasons mentioned above. It is generally not curable but there are several medications in the market that allow you to get relief from the condition. These medications let you achieve an erection and sustain it long enough to enjoy satisfactory sex.

You will find both prescription medications and OTC drugs for the treatment of ED. Viagra is the best-known prescription only medication for the treatment of ED. Manufactured by Pfizer; Viagra today is recognized as the benchmark in treatments for impotence. More than 16 million men use it worldwide.

Cialis is another impotence medication that is perhaps just as widely used as Viagra. This impotence medication however has several plus points against Viagra. Where Viagra takes around 45 minutes to an hour to come into effect, Cialis shows results in just about 30 minutes. Viagra's effects last for around four hours while Cialis is called the “Weekend Pill” because its effects can stay for as long as 36 hours.

The last but not really the least medication for impotence is Levitra. This medication is highly preferred for senior men because it acts in really small doses and has very few side effects. Levitra has been found to show effects in just around 30 minutes and its effects last for several hours.

All of the above impotence medications work on a common track, by acting on and inhibiting the action of the enzyme, phosphodiesterase type-5 or PDE-5. By doing so, these impotence drugs improve blood flow to the penis and thereby help in achieving and sustaining a better erection.

If you are also suffering from lack of confidence due to your inability to keep an erection, contact your doctor today and get yourself a prescription for the treatment of your ED condition. With not one or two but three treatments available for erectile dysfunction treatment, there is no scope for you to delay. So do not suffer more in silence and get any of the treatments mentioned above. You will be able to revive your sex life and breathe life into your relationship.