Did you know that erectile dysfunction is increasingly common?  Half of all men between the ages of 40-70 suffer some degree of difficulty getting or maintaining an erection.  Diet, sleeping patterns, exercise and other health-related factors contribute towards male sexual performance.

Usually, British men don’t like to talk about matters of the bedroom, but it’s important that they do and seek help. Erectile dysfunction is usually seen as an early warning sign for other conditions such as high blood pressure and heart disease. Together with Pharma Nord, retailers of Prelox, we explore the condition and what men who are suffering from it can do to help the problem.

Understanding the condition

According to Consumer Health Digest, one in ten men suffers from erectile dysfunction across the world, especially in the over 75s. It’s not just older men that suffer from the condition though; men of any age can experience the disorder.  The frequency of erection problem determines if you're classified as having erectile dysfunction.

If you are unable to gain an erection more than 50% of the time, it is considered to be erectile dysfunction.  However, only 33% of suffers seek out medical advice or ask the right questions.  Without help, the condition is unlikely to improve.  Fortunately, there are many effective treatment options available, giving the freedom of an enjoyable sex life.

Causes of the problem

There are many reasons why men suffer from erectile dysfunction, some of which include:

·         Hormonal imbalances

·         A restriction in the blood flow to the penis

·         Conditions that affect your nervous system

·         Psychological issues such as depression and anxiety can also bring on the condition

To establish whether you actually have the condition, a popular method is to attach a ring of postage stamps to the penis when going to bed; if the ring is broken in the morning, this suggests your penis is working during the night.  This would point to the problem being psychological (rather than physical), though this test is not 100% reliable.

Medications can also cause problems regarding sexual performance; drugs such as diuretics (used in treating high blood pressure), antidepressants (used to treat depression), corticosteroids (an anti-inflammatory medication containing steroids) and antihistamines (used to treat allergies) can all lead to erectile dysfunction when used frequently.

As well as medications, those who suffer from medical conditions such as diabetes are also susceptible to the condition. Usually, they tend to suffer from the condition 10 to 15 years earlier than other men, with an increased likelihood of developing the condition later in life.

Solutions to the problem

To treat the condition, many health professionals target the underlying causes of the problem, such as heart disease and diabetes. Alongside these conditions, lifestyle changes also help in combating against the dysfunction. By quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, exercising more, and losing weight, all of these things help to reduce a man’s stress levels and help to gain better erections.

Prescription medication should only be taken if the condition is physical (rather than psychological) and the patient does not suffer from any pre-existing medical conditions; when the problem is psychological, patients can talk to therapists that help them to remove any anxieties surrounding sex. Many health professionals like Urocare London proceed by targeting the underlying causes.