Drug-free treatment of erectile dysfunction

Erection

The erection process is initiated by psychological and emotional processes. In response to sexual desire, blood flow to the penis increases (under the influence of hormones and neural regulators) while venous outflow decreases. Blood gradually fills the penis's cavernous bodies. At the end of the act the veins open, the blood flows out, the erection subsides and the penis returns to its resting state.

An impairment at any stage of this process affects the outcome and can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Who is affected by erectile dysfunction?

The prevalence of erectile dysfunction increases with age. Today the problem affects 5–10% of men under 40, while it exceeds 60% in men over 60.

In younger men the problems are usually less severe and are often attributable to psychological causes, which are often reversible.

In older men erectile dysfunction more frequently results from medical conditions. The so‑called male climacteric (andropause) around the age of 60 is associated with decreased sexual desire, reduced physical performance and a decline in well‑being.

See a doctor as soon as possible!

Early evaluation is necessary to reveal any underlying diseases behind erectile dysfunction, because treating them is the first help. It is also important to know that the longer you wait hoping it will "go away," the more the problem becomes fixed — therefore seek a solution as early as possible.

Conditions that can cause erectile dysfunction

• high blood pressure, cardiovascular diseases: erectile dysfunction can be the first warning sign! It may precede complications such as heart attack or stroke by 1–2 years.
• diabetes: diabetes doubles the occurrence of erectile dysfunction because it damages the small vessels and nerves involved in erection.
• high blood lipid concentrations
• depression and other mental disorders
• neuropathic conditions (multiple sclerosis, paraplegia)
• prostatitis: erectile dysfunction can be a symptom of prostate inflammation, which is fully curable with timely treatment. Benign prostatic enlargement in middle‑aged or older men, and advanced stages of prostate cancer, can also cause it.
• during prostate surgery the nerves going to the penis can be accidentally damaged, which may even cause a complete loss of erection.
• liver and kidney disease
• medication side effects (for example antihypertensives, antiarrhythmics, lipid‑lowering agents, anti‑inflammatories, antidepressants and dehydration)
• hormonal disorders
• smoking: among those who smoke 2–10 cigarettes per day erectile dysfunction occurs in about 16%, in those who smoke between 10 and 20 cigarettes about 36%, while among those who smoke more than 20 cigarettes it occurs in about 60%.
• excessive alcohol and drug use can also have harmful effects on erection.
• a severe spinal injury can cause a complete loss of erection.

Prevention is possible!

A basic truth for the male body is that what is bad for the heart is also bad for erections. In this light, conscious nutrition is important, because an unhealthy diet also affects your circulatory system.

Maintaining a healthy weight also plays a significant role in erections. Obesity is often associated with diabetes, whose serious complication is nerve degeneration, which can worsen erectile function.

High blood pressure and cholesterol also affect the vessels responsible for penile blood supply, so it is worth monitoring these values.

Exercise plays a large role in prevention, especially strengthening the cardiovascular system. Running, jogging, but also regular walking, swimming and light cycling are beneficial. They strengthen your circulation and keep your vessels healthy.

Testosterone is responsible for sexual desire and also plays a role in erection, so a decrease in this hormone can lead to deterioration in both.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction

There are several options available to you against erectile dysfunction; the choice depends on the severity of the condition and the underlying cause:

• psychological support from a psychologist, aimed at resolving psychogenic causes (e.g. stress, low self‑esteem, etc.),
• medications that treat the underlying disease (diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.),
• drugs that directly induce erection (Attention! The “blue pill” can be dangerous in certain diseases!),
• implantable (inflatable) devices surgically placed into the penis,
• vacuum devices that mechanically produce an erection from the outside.

If you are wary of drug side effects or of the somewhat uncertain outcomes of penile surgery, I recommend the completely safe yet effective vacuum devices.

Examples include the Medintim Manual erection support kit or its more modern version, the Medintim Active erection support kit.

These devices create a vacuum inside a tubular device placed over the penis. The vacuum produces an erection within a short time, one to one and a half minutes. At that point a rubber ring must be placed at the base of the penis to prevent the erection from subsiding (i.e., to prevent blood from leaving the penis). The erection can be maintained safely for a long time.

The time required to achieve an erection is short, so it does not jeopardize the intimacy of the encounter or the maintenance of libido. Vacuum devices are completely safe and can be used confidently in the fight against erectile dysfunction even if you cannot take specific potency‑enhancing drugs because of other diseases (heart disease, high blood pressure, etc.).

With the vacuum method there is a 97–98% chance of achieving an adequate erection; it only does not work for those whose cavernous bodies are damaged, scarred, or contain a tumor. For the vast majority, however, it is an excellent and completely safe solution!