Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
Definition
What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is characterized by difficulting achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for sexual actvity or penetration, at least 50% of the time, for a period of six months.
Incidence
How common is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Studies estimate that more than 30 million men in North America suffer from erectile dysfunction. That's at least one in 10 men. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study suggests that up to 50% of men have difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection at some time in their lives.
Although age can be a contributing factor, men from 17-96 can experience erectile dysfunction as a result of psychological or physical health problems. On the other hand, a man with good mental and physical health can expect to have a satisfying sex life well into his nineties!
Risk Factors
What are the risk factors for erectile dysfunction (ED)?
Smoking, diabetes and high cholesterol can cause hardening of the arteries thereby decreasing the flow of blood to parts of the body and, in particular, to the penis. Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury as well as surgery for colon or prostate cancer damage the nerves in the body so that messages from the brain cannot be processed effectively causing a decrease in response or, no response. Alcohol, drug abuse and certain medications can cause both neurological and cardiovascular damage.
Psychological factors include performance anxiety, relationship problems, depression and stress. Those who suffer from chronic pain are also affected psychologically. It is difficult psychologically to be intimate with another partner after many years in a monogamous relationship and many men have problems in new relationships (Widower's Syndrome).