Erectile Dysfunction is a Growing Problem

Erectile Dysfunction is a Growing Problem

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. These variations make defining ED and estimating its incidence difficult. Estimates range in the tens of millions of men worldwide. The increase happened gradually, The availability of treatments such as vacuum devices and injectable drugs and the acceptability of discussing erectile function has also contributed to the increase in the number of men diagnosed with this condition. The introduction of Viagra for treatment of Erectile Dysfunction in 1998 put the spotlight on what was originally a secretive diagnosis.

ED may have an identifiable physical cause or there may be no identifiable physical cause. The incidence increases with age: About 5 percent of 40-year-old men and 20% percent of 65-year-old men experience ED. But it is not an inevitable part of aging.

Normal erection depends on healthy nerves, blood vessels, muscles, and fibrous tissues, as well as on adequate blood levels of certain hormones, such as testosterone. Damage, injury, or malfunction in any of these areas can lead to erectile dysfunction. A number of physical factors such as disease or surgery, as well as psychological factors, can also cause erectile dysfunction. In the past it was believed that most cases of erectile dysfunction were due to psychological causes. But now we know that in most cases, especially in older men a physical cause can be identified.