Erectile Dysfunction Basics
How common is erectile dysfunction?
It’s difficult to get a reliable count of the number of men affected. Before the arrival of the erectile dysfunction drugs, shame and embarrassment prevented men from admitting the problem and seeking help. So, when the little blue pills came on the market as prescription only, it was the first chance to get a more accurate count. Unfortunately, as online pharmacies have become reliable sources for these drugs, men no longer have to admit the problem in a way that allows an accurate count. This leaves us with an estimate that up to 30 million men may be affected at some point in their lives in the US alone. Complete impotence seems to affect about 5% of men up to the age of 45 and this rises to about 15% by the age of 70.
Age
As men age, there’s a slight loss of testosterone and, when combined with other health problems, this make erectile dysfunction more likely. In the majority of cases, the problems are mild but, over 65, the risk of more serious failure increases.
Injury and disease
If you are injured or affected by diabetes or other diseases affecting the nervous system, this can affect sexual performance. In general, prostate cancer does not immediately affect the ability to have an erection and some men elect not to have surgery rather than risk sexual problems caused by the surgery.
Psychology
Performance anxiety is one of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction and it can affect men at all ages. Under normal circumstances, the anxiety fades when men build up confidence with a trusting partner. But men who are seriously depressed can also have sexual problems. In this, note that some antidepressants cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect.
What are the standard treatments?
With oral drugs now effective, they are the standard treatment because of their convenience. The other options of injections and medical devices can be slightly painful and somewhat inconvenient. If drugs alone are not effective, you should have a full medical check-up. There may be a more serious underlying cause that has to be treated before you can resume sexual activity.
What are the health insurance issues?
If you have a private policy or you are a member of a health plan through your employment, you should check the wording of the policy to see what is covered. The majority of policies do cover the drugs but usually with co-payments. In some cases, it will be cheaper to buy online when you factor in the cost of the consultation and all the incidental costs.