Let’s talk for a minute about our old buddy ED. ED is the kind of guy that is always dropping in, showing up at the most inopportune times, unannounced and uninvited. Though no one is a big fan of ED, the reality is that lots and lots of people want to learn more about ED. You know, just in case he should drop in one day, unannounced and uninvited.
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So who is, or better yet, what is ED? ED is more appropriately known by his common name, “Erectile Dysfunction.” The name erectile dysfunction really doesn’t have much of a ring to it though, and quite frankly it even sounds a little bit threatening and ominous. So most folks just call erectile dysfunction “ED.”
What Is ED?
ED is a condition that affects a man’s ability to both achieve and maintain a healthy erection. Though not a lot of folks talk openly about ED, the reality is that Erectile Dysfunction is a surprising common occurrence among American men. In fact, just over 1 in 5 American men will at some point in their life time suffer from ED. While this 1 in 5 figure is in and of itself shocking, African American men are at an even higher risk still for a visit from ED. In fact, close to 1 in 4 African American men will at some point in their life time suffer from ED.
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ED occurs when the blood flow to the penis has been compromised. Under normal circumstances, a healthy erection will result when there is a temporary increase in the flow of blood to the penis after sexual arousal. At the same time that there is this increased flow of blood into the penis, there is a simultaneous decrease in the flow of blood out of the penis. As a result, the penis fills and swells with blood; growing in both length and width as it fills ultimately causing an erection.
What Causes ED?
There are many potential reasons that ED might pay an unsuspecting gentleman a visit. Some of the more common causes of erectile dysfunction however include anxiety, stress, depression, hypertension, diabetes, high cholesterol, kidney disease, alcohol use and abuse, smoking, Gingivitis and poor oral health and neurological conditions like stroke, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. All of these conditions either directly limit the flow of blood to the penis that is necessary to achieve and to maintain an erection after sexual arousal; or they limit the brain’s ability to generate and to then send the neurological signals to the penis and to the blood vessels that supply the penis after arousal has occurred that are necessary for an erection to develop.
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Many times a doctor can diagnose erectile dysfunction simply by taking a patient’s history and then completing a targeted physical exam. When the diagnosis is in question however, further investigation of ED may include ultrasound of the penis. Ultrasound of the penis is done to document how well the blood flows to the penis. If ultrasound is inconclusive, a test called an Overnight Erection Test may then be performed. The Overnight Erection Test can help to determine whether or not someone's ED is truly physical in nature (i.e., due to poor blood flow to the penis) or more psychological in nature.
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What Are Treatment Options?
When ED has been diagnosed, treatment of the condition frequently involves use of a class of prescription medications called PDE5 inhibitors. Medications in this class include popular brands like Cialis. These PDE5 inhibitor medications work by causing the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis to temporarily dilate. This temporary dilation of these blood vessels then increases the overall blood flow to the penis which in turn leads to the penis becoming engorged with blood and then erect.
Because these medications do have an effect on the body’s blood vessels and blood flow, however, they can also adversely affect a person’s blood pressure. This can be dangerous for some people who suffer from underlying medical conditions, and so PDE5 inhibitor medications should only be used when prescribed by a licensed physician. Translation my friends? Don’t go buying your pills from some online pharmacy without a proper prescription. If you do, you may find out that the pleasure that you are in search of is not ultimately worth the pain that you actually find.
An additional note about PDE5 inhibitors is this: As men grow older, some of them using PDE5 inhibitors may find that they are becoming less and less effective. When these medications begin to become less effective, the next line of available treatment may include use devices like a Vacuum Constriction Device (VCD) or an Internal Penile Pump (IPP).
Use of the VCD is typically the next step for many men. The VCD is basically a long cylinder that is placed around the penis. A handheld pump connected to the cylinder is then used to create a suction around the penis that mechanically draws blood into the penis, causing engorgement and subsequent erection.
The Internal Penile Pump (IPP) on the other hand is a surgically-implanted device that contains soft inflatable cylinders that are placed inside of the penis. These cylinders can then be filled with fluid upon demand (using a pump that is surgically implanted into the scrotum), causing the penis to become engorged with this fluid and then erect.
No matter what option men pursue in treating their ED, all men - but especially African American men in whom ED is more common - need to know that erectile dysfunction is a common affliction. Though sufferers of ED may feel that they are alone in their struggles, the truth is that they are not. ED is just the kind of guy that is always dropping in on everyone; showing up at the most inopportune times, unannounced and uninvited. But ED can be dealt with, and the options to deal with him are many.
Men with concerns about ED need to have an open and frank discussion with their doctor. They also need to be patient with themselves and with the process.
Until next time, stay healthy!
Jamil Abdur-Rahman, MD (Dr. J) is a board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist. He practices alongside his twin brother Dr. Idries (who is also a board certified Obstetrician/Gynecologist) in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. Follow the Twin Docs on Instagram and Twitter @TwinDoctorsTV. Learn more at TwinDoctorsTV.com.
