What Is Erectile Dysfunction? Things You Need to Know

Male sexuality can be affected by a number of disorders. One of the most famous is erectile dysfunction, also known colloquially as an erectile dysfunction. This refers to the inability to achieve sufficient male penis stiffness for satisfactory intercourse. This means that you cannot achieve the required erection or maintain it long enough. The sexual desire is often still there. Over time, however, the libido can disappear because those affected are often confronted with their supposed “failure”. You can use related drugs like ed pills for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction has two terms that are sometimes used interchangeably: impotence and sterility.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Impotence is a very general and vaguely defined term, because earlier it was differentiated between the inability to live together and the inability to reproduce (Impotentiagenerandi).

Sterility means the inability of the man to reproduce, also known as fertility, although the ability to have an erection is usually not restricted. Erectile dysfunction can occur occasionally or for a limited period of time, or can lead to permanent loss of erectile function.

In the medical sense, one speaks of erectile dysfunction if the affected person cannot achieve an adequate erection within 6 months from approx. 70% of the attempts. Erectile dysfunction is often the result of other illnesses.

Reactions are caused by the complex interplay of blood vessels, the nervous system, hormones and muscles. This makes it understandable that erectile dysfunction can have several causes. They are often an accompanying symptom of diseases such as diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, arterial circulatory disorders or neurological diseases.

The causes are also genital malformations and surgical interventions in the pelvic area. But taking certain medications, alcohol and nicotine consumption can also lead to erectile dysfunction. Mental health problems can also affect erectile function.

The focus of a diagnosis is a detailed questioning of the person concerned, the physical examination, in particular of the penis and testicles, blood and hormone tests and other special methods.

The treatment of erectile dysfunction is performed with erection-promoting drugs, mechanical aids or surgery. An easy-to - do online test can give a first indication of whether it is erectile dysfunction. For treatment, there have long been unreliable statistics on the incidence of erectile dysfunction.

One thing is certain: erectile dysfunction increases with age. According to American studies, about half of men over the age of 40 suffer from at least temporary erectile dysfunction. According to a study by the University of Cologne in 2000, only one in 100 men up to the age of 40 was affected, while over 30% of those surveyed were affected in the 60-70 year-olds.

Erection & ejaculation

The penis hangs over the scrotum in the normal state. The “penis root” is attached to the pelvic floor and the pubic branches. The penis contains 3 erectile tissue, the 2 erectile tissue on each side and the urethral enlargement on the underside. The erectile tissue surrounding the urethra prevents the urethra from being compressed during erection, so it remains open for ejaculation despite the stiffened penis.