Diabetes, high blood pressure and sexual performance

Definition of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction is a condition in which the penis is unable to become erect normally, which can be caused by both physical and mental causes or other factors such as vascular disease, neurological diseases, androgen deficiency, stress, depression, or may be caused by conflicts between couples, which affects the mental state, including drinking alcohol, smoking, or taking certain medications.

In addition, erectile dysfunction can occur in teenagers to the elderly, which will occur in about half of those aged 40-70 years.

Symptoms of erectile dysfunction

Symptoms of erectile dysfunction occur when the penis is unable to become erect or is not erect long enough for intercourse. It may occur together with other sexual disorders such as reduced sexual desire, problems with orgasm, and abnormalities in ejaculation, etc.

If you have the following signs or symptoms of erectile dysfunction, you should see a doctor.

• Have been concerned or suspicious that you have erectile dysfunction for more than 2-3 weeks.
• Discover that you have abnormal sexual symptoms, such as having trouble ejaculating too early or too late.
• Have risk factors for erectile dysfunction, such as blood vessel disease, heart disease, or diabetes, as well as other health problems.

Causes of erectile dysfunction

The causes can be divided into two main groups:

1. Physical causes

Most cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, blood vessel disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, obesity, or Parkinson's disease. Erectile dysfunction is only a secondary cause.

In addition, it can also occur as a side effect from medical treatment or the use of certain medications, such as antidepressants or antihistamines, as well as smoking, heavy drinking, physical fatigue, or sleep disorders.

2. Psychological causes

The brain plays a key role in stimulating an erection in the male sexual organ or inducing sexual arousal. Some mental health conditions that interfere with or negatively affect sexual arousal include stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions, as well as conflict or relationship problems with your partner.

Diagnosis of erectile dysfunction

Initially, the doctor will ask about the patient's medical history, such as important symptoms, medical history, chronic diseases, or medications taken, and the doctor will perform a physical examination. In addition, if the doctor finds other health problems, additional examinations may be required or a referral to a specialist may be required. Additional examinations include blood tests, urine tests, ultrasounds, mental health examinations, or examinations of the erectile function of the penis.

Most people with erectile dysfunction have underlying diseases, so it is necessary to diagnose the cause and risk factors so that treatment can be given accurately.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction

Treatment of erectile dysfunction depends on the cause, severity, and underlying disease. For example, if it is a physical disease, the doctor will treat that cause. However, if the treatment is ineffective, the doctor will perform a further diagnosis to find the real cause and find out which treatment or therapy is most suitable for the patient.

Currently, there are many methods of treating erectile dysfunction according to the appropriateness and needs of each patient, including:

Change your daily behavior

Try to change your daily behavior with effort and determination to be healthier because the erection of the penis is an indicator of physical health.

Patients who are overweight should find ways to lose weight, such as exercising regularly and controlling their diet because being overweight is one of the causes of long-term erectile dysfunction.

Quit smoking, reduce alcohol consumption, and avoid illegal drugs, which are health-damaging. When physical health worsens, it is an important factor that eventually leads to erectile dysfunction.

Avoid or try to reduce stress because stress, anxiety, or depression are one of the causes of erectile dysfunction. Therefore, you should find ways to reduce stress, find the cause of the stress, and consider whether it can be fixed. If it cannot be fixed, you should seek help, such as consulting a psychologist or psychiatrist.

People who are taking medications that may cause erectile dysfunction, such as antidepressants or antihistamines, when patients who take such medications find that they have erectile dysfunction, they can consult with the doctor treating that disease.

Treat with oral medication

Treatment and treatment of male impotence Phosphodiesterase-5 Inhibitors (PDE-5) include Sildenafil, Tadalafil, and Vardenafil. These drugs are used to treat men with erectile dysfunction. The drugs work temporarily by increasing blood flow to the penis.

Take 1 pill within 24 hours. It was found that 2 out of 3 men who took this drug had better erections. However, foreplay must be done before taking the drug to see good results.

This group of drugs should not be used in people with angina because they may need to use nitrates for treatment. When used together with PDE-5 inhibitors, it can cause serious side effects on the heart and can be life-threatening. Therefore, patients who need to use nitrates should inform their doctor first.

In addition, caution should be exercised when using the drug for those at risk of priapism, a condition that causes pain when the penis is erect. Or those who use alpha-blockers, which are drugs that dilate blood vessels and are used to treat a variety of diseases and symptoms, such as enlarged prostate and high blood pressure.

Possible side effects when using PDE-5 inhibitors

• Headache and migraine
• Flushing of the skin
• Indigestion
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stuffy or runny nose
• Back pain, muscle pain
• Vision disturbance

Hormone therapy

For those with hormonal-related erectile dysfunction, such as low levels of testosterone, doctors may treat them with injections of synthetic hormones, which help bring the body's hormone levels back to normal.

Penile prosthesis surgery

Penile prosthesis surgery is a last resort when other treatments have failed. Most doctors do not recommend this method because it can cause serious side effects like other surgeries, such as infection. In addition, penile prostheses are very expensive and can only be performed by certain urologists.

Psychological treatment

Treatments that may be effective for those with psychologically-caused erectile dysfunction include a training method called ‘Sensate Focus’, a sex therapy that involves couples receiving therapy together.

In the first phase, couples are not allowed to have sex at all and are not allowed to touch the other person’s genitals or breasts. This method can help reduce concerns about touching the genitals of men with problems.

In the next phase, they can start touching the genitals and breasts, so that they learn how to stimulate sexual arousal by touching the genitals or breasts. Once they have been trained to be sexually aroused, they can have sex.

For those with erectile dysfunction caused by depression or anxiety, they can talk to a counselor, who can help them determine the real cause and find a solution.

In addition, there are other psychotherapy treatments that can help patients understand themselves better, such as increasing their self-confidence, sex, or relationships with their partners. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) involves couples talking about sex, emotions, or feelings that may affect erectile dysfunction. This method helps patients understand the problem and find a solution.

Herbal treatment

Another low-risk alternative that uses natural ingredients is to use herbs to treat erectile dysfunction. In our country, there are various dietary supplements that have herbal ingredients as the main ingredients, which have been researched and found to help with erectile dysfunction. We have a specific herbal formula that we have researched ourselves called M herbs for men, which is used to naturally nourish male sexual performance.

Complications of erectile dysfunction

Normally, erectile dysfunction does not have any serious or complication problems, but it can affect the mind and relationship, such as:

If erectile dysfunction is not properly treated, it can lead to stress and anxiety.

When having a bad sexual experience, it can eventually lead to stress or depression, which will make the patient lose confidence or feel uncomfortable.

It can cause conflict or relationship problems with the partner, both in terms of happiness during sex or problems due to not being able to have children.

Prevention of erectile dysfunction

Prevention can be easily started by yourself by exercising regularly, which in addition to the body being strong also helps stimulate the production of male hormones very well. Including those who have chronic diseases should be under close care of a doctor, act appropriately according to the doctor's advice, see a doctor for a detailed physical examination regularly, change your daily behavior for better health, such as quitting smoking, avoiding alcoholic beverages, exercising regularly, keeping a bright mood and avoiding stress.

In addition, for those with mental illnesses such as depression, anxiety, or other mental health problems, they should seek immediate treatment for mental illness.