What causes erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction occurs when men can’t have an erection or can’t keep an erection that’s firm enough to have intercourse. A variety of medications and health conditions can cause erectile dysfunction.
An enlarged prostate, sleeping disorders, Peyronie’s disease, stress, depression, and obesity are a few of the possible causes of erectile dysfunction. Men with diabetes are 2-3 times more likely to develop erectile dysfunction than men who do not have this chronic condition.
Of all the possible causes, however, vascular disease is one of the most common. When you have an erection, arteries in the penis dilate, allowing more blood to flow into the penis and produce a firm erection.
When blood vessels sustain damage from high blood pressure, smoking, or high blood sugar, or when atherosclerosis blocks blood flow, you can’t have a normal erection. For this reason, erectile dysfunction is often a red flag alerting you to the presence of cardiovascular disease.
How is erectile dysfunction treated?
After Dr. McBride reviews your medical history, talks about lifestyle issues like stress, and performs a thorough exam, he decides whether you may need additional testing to determine the cause of your erectile dysfunction.
For example, he may want to evaluate your heart, perform an ultrasound, or conduct erectile function tests.
Your treatment depends on the underlying cause. Whenever possible, Dr. McBride begins by addressing lifestyle concerns affecting your ability to have an erection.
Lifestyle changes could include improving your vascular health and/or losing weight with diet and exercise, stopping smoking, or cutting down on alcohol. Dr. McBride may recommend getting help with emotional problems such as stress, depression, and relationship conflicts.
Other treatment options include:
- Testosterone therapy
- Medications to increase blood flow to the penis
- Vacuum erection device
- Self-injection therapy
- Intraurethral therapy
- Shockwave therapy
- Implant surgery
Dr. McBride has extensive experience in inserting penile implants that allow men to have an erection.
How do penile implants treat erectile dysfunction?
When nonsurgical treatments haven’t helped your erectile dysfunction, Dr. McBride may recommend surgery to insert penile implants. He uses two basic types of implants produced by Boston Scientific:
Rigid implants
Dr. McBride inserts two silicone rods in your penis. You bend the implants upward for sex and leave them turned down the rest of the time.
Inflatable implants
Dr. McBride implants two cylinders inside your penis, a fluid-filled reservoir under the abdominal wall, and a pump inside your scrotum. To have an erection, you press on the pump, pushing the fluid from the reservoir into the cylinders to produce an erection. After intercourse, you press a release valve on the pump so fluid can leave the cylinder and return to the reservoir.
If you need help with erectile dysfunction, call J. Abram McBride, MD, or schedule an appointment online.
