•   Tuesday, 19 March 2024
Sexual Disorders

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a problem faced by more than half of men between the ages of 40 and 70. This is a huge number of patients who, in most cases, do not want to consult a doctor. By underestimating this problem and making the negative consequences only accumulate, it leads to the accumulation of various types of problems.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is most often defined as the inability to obtain and maintain an erection of a penis that allows for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Very often, erectile dysfunction also leads to discomfort, felt in an individual way, as well as difficulties in relations with sexual partners, and thus problems in relationships. In the literature on the subject there are other terms that describe the same state of affairs. We may encounter terms such as erectile dysfunction, erectile dysfunction, erectile dysfunction or male erectile dysfunction, impotence or potency dysfunction.

Depending on the causes of erectile dysfunction, psychogenic, organic or mixed disorders can be distinguished. Organic disorders occur as a result of illness, various types of somatic damage, stimulants or medicines. Erectile dysfunction can also be divided using the starting criterion. In this way, we can distinguish between primary disorders, i.e. life-long and secondary disorders, i.e. acquired. Due to the severity of the condition, mild, moderate or profound disorders may be encountered.

Erectile dysfunctions may occur regardless of situations or circumstances, or in connection with specific places, circumstances or persons. Erectile dysfunction can also be caused by metabolic and endocrine diseases such as diabetes, thyroid diseases, hyperlipidemia, hyperprolactinemia, metabolic syndrome and hypogonadism. Other diseases that can affect erectile dysfunction include depression, acute anxiety, multiple sclerosis and a history of stroke.

Erection and lifestyle

Erectile dysfunction in the modern world is to a large extent related to the currently popular lifestyle. Lack of exercise and physical activity, a sedentary lifestyle or the resulting obesity can significantly contribute to erectile dysfunction. Drug use, smoking, alcohol and drug abuse, mainly from the opioid group, can also contribute to emerging erectile dysfunction. Of course, elderly people are most at risk, because the frequency of various diseases increases, and age is also a factor contributing to erection problems. Unfortunately, contemporary statistics more and more often indicate that also young men and boys face the problem of erectile dysfunction.

In generally accepted classifications, erectile dysfunction is not considered a separate disease unit. They are taken as a symptom of other diseases, mainly cardiovascular diseases. Symptoms of emerging disorders may develop continuously, but they may also appear suddenly in a person who has previously functioned in the sexual sphere completely normal.

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