Diagnosing ED

To determine if you have ED, you should talk to your doctor. Your doctor may either conduct a brief consultation or a thorough physical exam including diagnostic tests depending on your medical history.

Erection Dysfunction (ED)

"Erectile dysfunction" or impotence means the inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or the ability to achieve only brief erections. Different men may experience varying degrees of erection dysfunction. This could be the result of under lying conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension. By seeing your doctor, you can improve your overall health and can learn about how to improve your erection quality (EQ).

How does an erection occur?

The penis contains two chambers, called the corpora cavernosa, which run the length of the organ. A spongy tissue fills the chambers. The corpora cavernosa are surrounded by a membrane, called the tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries. The urethra, which is the channel for urine and ejaculate, runs along the underside of the corpora cavernosa.

Erection begins with sensory and mental stimulation. Impulses from the brain and local nerves cause the muscles of the corpora cavernosa to relax, allowing blood to flow in and fill the open spaces. The blood creates pressure in the corpora cavernosa, making the penis expand. The tunica albuginea helps to trap the blood in the corpora cavernosa, thereby sustaining erection. Erection is reversed when muscles in the penis contract, stopping the inflow of blood and opening outflow channels.

How common is ED?

ED is much more common than you may realize, and also highly treatable. An estimated 152 million men worldwide suffer from ED. In America , alone 30 million men suffer from it.

Does is it vary from men to men?

The degree to which men are afflicted varies from occasional to recurrent or consistent inability to attain or maintain an erection.

What are the causes of Sexual Impotence?

Impotence is not a disease, but a side effect of other underlying causes. The causes of impotence or erectile dysfunction can be classified into two major groups:

• 10 % of all causes are due to purely psychological factors
• Whereas 90% of all causes are due to physical or organic factors

Psychological / Non -Organic Causes
Sexual impotence induced due to a purely psychological, or non-organic cause can be due to many reasons. Impotence can either start abruptly after a major psychological trauma or gradually as a result of depression, anxiety and chronic stress. Potency can also be affected due to other mental disorders. Occasional impotency can be due to the stress to perform or fear of failure known as "Performance Anxiety "when a man is expected to assume an aggressive part in the sexual relationship. It could also be due to lack of compatibility with the sexual partner, temporary decrease in libido , tiredness , anxiety, insecurity of an illicit relationship or disturbing elements in the immediate environment like noise.

Physical / Organic Causes
Physical or organic causes for temporary or chronic impotence range from the easily avoidable or curable, to very severe causes, which cannot be cured without radical measures, such as surgeries. These causes are:

Peripheral Vascular Disease: (Insufficient blood supply to the penis)
This is the most common cause of Erectile Dysfunction. It is the failure to supply adequate blood to the penis resulting in less rigid erections or the inability to maintain them. Erection occurs when blood carried by the supply arteries of the penis, fills the erectile bodies made of spongeous tissue. This is correlated with many systematic diseases which affect the blood vessels of the genital region, directly or indirectly.

Chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, renal failure, heart disease, and others, lead to the destruction of the contractile walls of the veins or provoke hardening, narrowing or blockages of the arteries leading to the penis. Vascular insufficiency may be due to aging. It starts slowly, first causing a decrease in the firmness of erections, and then becoming more intense.

Side Effects of Medications and Drugs
Did You Know That More than 200 prescription and non-prescription medicines are known to affect erectile function in man? While some drugs promote impotence by acting on the central nervous system, others affect the intensity of blood supply to the penis, or promote relaxation of the blood vessels.

Medications & Drugs

• Medications used to treat high blood pressure (arterial hypertension), such as spironolactone and thiazide diuretics, and beta-blockers
• Medications used to treat depression (antidepressives) and anxiety (anxiolytics), such as phenotiazine
• Medications used to treat neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease and others
• Medications used to treat gastrointestinal ailments, such as cimetidine
• Medications used to treat allergies

Herbs For Erectile Dysfuntion

If you are a person with erectile dysfunction and don't like to use conventional medicines or the side effects, then you might want to try natural herbs. Here are some of the more popular herbs traditionally used to treat erectile dysfunction in men in many countries.

Saw Palmetto
From many years, saw palmetto has been used as a natural cure for enlarged prostate. Also, this herb is effectively used for urinary tract infection. Most of you are not aware of the fact that urinary tract and prostate play a key role in erectile dysfunction. So, it is essential to maintain these areas healthy, then only you will definitely see progress in your ability to continue an erection.

Gingko
Most of the clinical studies showed that gingko effectively helps in increasing the flow of blood to the penis. If erectile dysfunction is due to the intake of antidepressant medications, then you will get great benefit from taking gingko. The study showed that 50% of men who took gingko showed a great improvement in sustaining erections.

Ginseng
Most of the people use ginseng to restore their energy levels and you will find it in various supplements and also in most popular energy drinks that are available in the market. From centuries, ginseng is used for stimulation in your body without causing nervousness and stress. It has become popular for treating men suffering with erectile dysfunction. According to the studies, men who take ginseng for up to 8 weeks will observe a great improvement in maintaining the erections.

Relaxing herbs which might also help erectile dysfunction:

• Valerian is an herb, which is used as fresh plant liquid extract.
• Passion flower is a mild and effective herb, when used along with other herbs can give great benefit.
• California poppy is another, which is used for muscle relaxation and also it is proven that this herb is effectively used as stress reliever.

Along with these herbs, natural remedies like ginger, turmeric and chocolate can also improve your condition. Before going to use any of the above herbs, you should consult your doctor about their safety on your health condition.

View our recommended products | Herbs For Men