Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is an inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex. For a diagnosis of ED, this needs to be an ongoing issue, rather than a rare occurrence. Erectile dysfunction sometimes goes undiagnosed however, as people can have a difficult time coming to a medical professional to ask for help, out of embarrassment. ED can cause stress, affect your self-confidence, and contribute to problems in your relationship. These reasons and more are why you should feel you can talk to your doctor and seek out the best treatment options for you.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There are many different reasons someone can experience erectile dysfunction, including emotional, hormonal, and other physical issues. Male sexual arousal involves a combination of the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles, and blood vessels, and an issue with any one of these areas can lead to difficulties with having or keeping an erection. As well, stress or other mental health problems can worsen erectile dysfunction. There are also many physical causes of ED some of which include heart disease, clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis), high cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes. This is why it’s important to seek medical assistance when faced with ED.
Erectile Dysfunction Prevention Methods and Diagnosis
The best thing you can do to avoid erectile dysfunction is to lead a healthy lifestyle. This means managing any conditions you may have like heart disease, eating healthy, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, taking steps to reduce stress, visiting your doctor for regular check-ups, and getting help for any mental health concerns.
Once you present erectile dysfunction as a concern to your doctor, a physical test as well as a conversation is usually all it will take to diagnose the disorder. Blood tests, urine tests and an ultrasound can be performed to then determine the potential cause or causes of the issue.
Treatment Options for ED
Did you know that ED medications help only 50% of men relieve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction? People with diabetes and heart diseases cannot take ED medications and many people who use these medications to relieve ED also have other side effects including headaches, backaches, nasal congestion, and stomach upset. They can also be very expensive if the medication is not covered by insurance. Oral medication also just treats the symptoms of ED, rather than the underlying cause of why it may be happening in the first place.
Luckily, there are other treatment options available. American Regenerative Clinic offers the ED Shot, which is a procedure that combines your own adult stem cells from bone marrow or fat with platelet rich plasma (PRP). PRP can use your body’s natural reparative factors to repair injured tissues. They secrete growth factors and send signals to boost the natural healing process of the body, and stem cells can actually replace and regenerate tissues by themselves! Men who have had this treatment typically see visible results in 2 to 4 weeks and gradually improve over months with improvement in erection and performance. The results can last for several years.
Call us to book an appointment at American Regenerative Clinic, or if you have questions about the ED Shot, or any other treatment.
