What is Erectile Dysfunction?

When a phrase is used in excess by advertisers, the meaning of the phrase can become lost in the vast sea of marketing. The name of the product and the condition the product allegedly treats is where advertisers place most of their efforts when building ad campaigns. All too often, advertisers overlook the actual condition and symptoms of the condition, to the misfortune of consumers.

In the realm of penis health, ads for products like Viagra and Cialis are a perfect example of how the use of a phrase by advertisers can almost make a condition synonymous with the medication. During these products’ commercials, or even in paper ads, the symptoms are rarely mentioned, however much focus is placed on “enhancing” natural assets with their specific product. This being the case, consumers must take a closer look at what “erectile dysfunction” is, how to identify if this is an issue you are experiencing, and what can be done to correct the problem.

First, it is important to understand what the condition is. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is also known as impotence, and refers to the inability to achieve, or sustain, an erection suitable for pleasurable sexual activity. Erectile dysfunction does not refer to a lack of sexual desire (libido), problems with ejaculation, or orgasm issues, which are different maladies altogether. Erectile dysfunction varies in severity from sufferer to sufferer, with some men able to sustain only brief erections, some having inconsistency in their ability to achieve erections, and still others who experience a complete incapability of achieving erections.

There are four basic physiological requirements for achieving and maintaining erections, including a healthy nervous system, healthy arteries in and around the penis, healthy smooth muscle and fibrous tissue within the penis, and adequate levels of nitric oxide in the penis. Other causes of erectile dysfunction include the normal aging process, diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases, smoking cigarettes, nerve or spinal cord injury, substance abuse, low levels of testosterone, depression and anxiety, as well as many medications, whose side effects include erectile dysfunction.

Due to the sensitive nature of erectile dysfunction, many men choose not to discuss the issue with their physician, making it difficult to know how many men are affected by the condition, however it is estimated that 30 million men in America are afflicted with ED. Erectile dysfunction can be diagnosed by a healthcare professional by examining patient history, with physical and psychosocial examinations, as well as with laboratory and other physiological tests.

Treatments available for ED include monitoring medications being taken that may impair erectile function, increased exercise, quitting smoking, oral supplements or medications, intra-urethral suppositories, intra-cavernosal injections, devices, prostheses, and psychotherapy. There are many erectile dysfunction treatments to choose from, including herbal remedies, which contain ingredients used by many civilizations and proven to work for centuries.

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