Erectile Dysfunction Discussed

Erectile Dysfunction Discussed or ED Discussed is a site dedicated to the discussion of Erectile Dysfunction. What is ED or Erectile Dysfunction, what are some of the causes of erectile dysfunction or impotence, what are some erectile dysfunction treatments or ED cures, what are some of the alternative ED solutions. This ED site also has erectile dysfunction surveys from users on ED effectiveness. See the Erectile dysfunction user polls along the side of each page and click on the results to get the erectile dysfunction drug ratings or reviews from users of the drugs. Erectile Dysfunction Druge reviews and articles include Cialis, Viagra and Levitra. Also inlcluded in our site is Erectile Dysfunction Forum where you can discus a vast array of ED topics. Included in our Erectile Dysfunction forum are the following topics (ED Support Group, Erectile Dysfunction and Cialis, Viagra, Levitra, erectile dysfunction success forums) Please make full use of the forum.

Remember always see your physician before taking any medication, this is just an information site containing erectile dysfunction articles and ED ratings from users. Hope you find this information on ED helpful.

Topical Erectile Dysfunction Therapy Shows Promise

An innovative drug-delivery system nanoparticles encapsulating nitric oxide or prescription drugs shows promise for topical treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), according to a new study by scientists at Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University.

The new system, tested successfully on a small number of animals, could potentially prevent side effects associated with oral ED medications, if study results can be replicated in humans. That could mean safer and more effective ED therapy for millions of men with heart disease and other health problems affecting erectile function. The study is published today in the online edition of the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

Tens of millions of men worldwide have benefited from oral ED medications such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis). However, these medications which belong to a class of drugs called phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors have limitations. They can cause systemic side effects that can be serious. These side effects include headache, facial flushing, nasal congestion, upset stomach, abnormal vision as well as isolated reports of hearing and vision loss. Men who've recently suffered a heart attack or stroke or have severe heart disease should use these drugs with caution or not at all. In addition, "an estimated 30 to 50 percent of men with ED do not respond to oral use of PDE5 inhibitors," says senior author Kelvin P. Davies, Ph.D., associate professor of urology at Einstein.

Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction Defined

Erectile Dysfunction (ED or "male impotence") is a sexual dysfunction characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis.An erection occurs due to blood entering and being retained in sponge-like bodies within the penis.

Erectile dysfunction is when an erection is consistently difficult or impossible to produce, despite arousal. There are various and often multiple underlying causes, some of which are treatable medical conditions. The most important organic causes are cardiovascular disease and diabetes, neurological problems (for example, trauma from prostatectomy surgery), hormonal insufficiencies and drug side effects.

Group Therapy Helps Men With Impotence

A new review of existing research suggests that group therapy can help men with erectile dysfunction even if they are already using popular drugs like Viagra. Group therapy could even be a feasible alternative to some treatments for impotence.

While the number of men studied overall was small, the reviewers found that group therapy appeared to be about as successful as suction devices and injections in terms of promoting erections. One analysis showed therapy worked for nearly two-thirds of participants.

The findings spotlight the importance of "integrating sex therapy and other psychological techniques into office practice" to help impotent patients, said lead author Tamara Melnik, professor of psychiatry at the University of São Paulo in Brazil.

The review appears in the latest issue of The Cochrane Library, a publication of The Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization that evaluates medical research. Systematic reviews draw evidence-based conclusions about medical practice after considering both the content and quality of existing medical trials on a topic.

Before the days of Viagra and its sibling drugs, many considered erectile dysfunction to be a difficult-to-treat psychological disorder. Now, drugs allow millions of men to achieve normal erections by allowing blood to flow more freely to the penis; the more serious side effects are rare.

Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosis

Clinical Tests For Diagnosing Erectile Dysfunction

Duplex ultrasound

Duplex ultrasound is used to evaluate erectile tissue. It is used to evaluate blood flow, venous leak, signs of atherosclerosis, and scarring of erectile tissue. An erection is induced and the ultrasound is used to see vascular dilation and measure blood pressure in the penis.

Penile nerves function These tests test nerve sensitivity. These tests require the doctor to squeeze the head of the penis, which immediately causes the anus to contract if nerve function is normal. A physician measures the reaction between the squeeze and the contraction. If this test shows latency in reaction then further tests tests are used.

Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) This is a simple test of normal erections during sleep. Their absence may indicate a problem with nerve function or blood supply in the penis. There are two methods used to test for nocturnal erection changes: snap gauge and strain gauge. The presence of NPT tends to signify physically functional systems, but the absence of NPT may not be conclusive.

Penile Biothesiometry

This is another test of nerve function in the shaft of the penis. This test uses electromagnetic vibration to evaluate sensitivity. A decreased perception of vibration may indicate nerve damage in the pelvic area, which can lead to impotence.

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