One in 10 Men in The World Have Erectile Dysfunction

One in 10 men in the world have erectile dysfunction and about 70% of men suffer episodes of erectile dysfunction at some time during their lives. Smokers have a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. Men who smoke more than 1 pack per day have a 50% higher risk of impotency than nonsmokers the same age. The likelihood of erectile dysfunction increases with age: 39% at age 40, 65% over the age of 65. There are many underlying physical and psychological causes of erectile dysfunction. Reduced blood flow to the penis and nerve damage are the most common physical causes. Underlying conditions associated with erectile dysfunction include vascular disease, diabetes, drugs, neurologic conditions, hormone imbalances, venous leak. About 45% of men with hypertension have severe erectile dysfunction (more than three episodes in a month), while only about 5% of men with normal blood pressure fit into this category.

If you have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, make an appointment with your doctor. He or she will evaluate your condition and advise you about treatment options.

Oral medications include Viagra (Sildenafil) - Pfizer, Levitra (Vardenafil) - Bayer/Glaxo-Smith Kline, Cialis (Tadalafil) - Icos/Lilly.

Vacuum Pump can be a treatment option. The penis is inserted into a plastic tube while a hand-held vacuum pump draws blood into the penis. A constriction device is then place around the base of the penis to prevent the blood from leaking out of the penis. The plastic tube is then removed and sexual activity can begin. The constriction device must be removed from the penis after 30 minutes.

For men suffering from erectile dysfunction, injection therapy may be an option too. The medication alprostadil (available as Caverject and EDEX) is injected directly into the penis, causing dilation of the blood vessels in the penis. An erection usually occurs within 10-15 minutes and generally lasts 45-60 minutes.

In some cases, the solution to erectil dysfunction is surgical implants. Various mechanical devices may be implanted into the penis, which provide rigidity. One of the more popular devices is an inflatable penile implant that is activated by squeezing a pump in the scrotum.