The inability to achieve and maintain an adequate erection for satisfying sexual activity or intercourse is known as erectile dysfunction (ED). Impotence is not desired; erectile dysfunction or erectile condition are.

There is no set standard for how persistent the issue must be or how long it must last before it qualifies as an ED. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition, defines ED as lasting at least six months.

Prevalence erectile dysfunction:

The prevalence of ED was examined in several research. The prevalence was 52%, according to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. According to the study, ED affects an increasing percentage of men as they age; at age 40, it affects about 40% of men, and by age 70, it affects about 70% of men.

At age 40, the prevalence of full ED was 5%; at age 70, it was 15%.2 The factor with the strongest correlation to ED was age.

The Massachusetts Male Aging Study's data have been used to determine incidence rates. To evaluate risk and develop treatment and preventative methods, incidence data are required.

According to the results of the Massachusetts study, there will be roughly 17,781 new cases of ED in Massachusetts and 617,715 in the United States per year.

The nationwide Health and Social Life Survey, a broader nationwide survey, looked at sexual function in both men and women.4 this study included 1,410 men between the ages of 18 and 59 and found that ED rates rose with advancing years.

The study also discovered that sexual desire decreased with aging. In comparison to men 18 to 29, men in the oldest group (50 to 59) were more than three times as likely to report decreased sexual desire and erection issues.

Men with poor physical and emotional health were more likely to experience sexual dysfunction. The study also came to the conclusion that sexual dysfunction is a significant public health issue and that emotional problems are probably a factor in sexual dysfunction.

Symptoms of ED:

In the primary care context, some self-administered tests may be helpful for detecting and assessing the severity of ED. The International Index of Erectile Function, a 15-item questionnaire that has been validated in numerous populations and is regarded as the gold standard to evaluate patients for ED, is the most often used tool.

A 5-item, short-form questionnaire called the Sexual Health Inventory for Men was created to track the effectiveness of treatment.

Recognizing that short-form questionnaires do not assess certain aspects of the sexual cycle, such as sexual desire, ejaculation, and orgasm is vital. Nevertheless, they may be helpful when discussing ED with patients and tracking treatment outcomes.

Diagnosis:

The key elements of the physical examination should follow a review of the medical history and consist of the following:

·         An evaluation of the patient's overall well-being and emotional state, as well as secondary sexual traits, paying special attention to gynecomastia and pubic or axillary hair loss.

·         Thorough peripheral vascular examination that includes feeling the pulses in the lower extremities and listening for bruits in the femoral and abdominal areas.

·         A thorough neurologic examination should cover blood pressure changes, distal extremities and saddle feeling, and reflexes such the bulbocavernosus and cremasterics.

·         A thorough genital exam that includes measuring the testicles to check for hypogonadism and feeling the penis for Peronei’s plaques.

·         Rectal examination to assess prostate health and sphincter tone.

·         An in-depth examination of the abdomen to look for organomegaly, or other indications of liver or kidney disease.

·         Cardiopulmonary assessment to assess the patient's suitability for any future therapies.

ED Treatments:

Oral Medications:

There are various categories of ED drugs, including:

Medicine taken orally Sildamax 100 Mg and Sildigra Super Power 160 Mg, two well-known medicines that relax the penile muscles, work by boosting the effects of nitric oxide.

Notably, those who take nitrates in any other form should avoid taking PDE-5 inhibitors because the two together could lead to dangerously low blood pressure.

Lifestyle Modification:

The recognized relationship between erectile dysfunction and overall health status means that altering one's lifestyle both enhances erectile function and slows the rate at which it declines with age. Patients were shown to have a 25% improvement in erectile function one year after quitting smoking.

Additionally, multivariate analysis revealed that obesity and erectile dysfunction are linked, with an increase in ED of almost 50% in obese males compared to normal weight individuals.

A third of the men randomly assigned to a weight loss program over a two-year period showed improvement in erectile dysfunction. Increased erectile quality has been linked to nutritional counseling and the Mediterranean diet. There isn't much evidence to suggest that increasing physical activity alone can improve erectile function; nevertheless, as physical activity is strongly linked to a lower BMI and has no known contraindications, it is advised for men with erectile dysfunction.

The Massachusetts Male Aging Study found that heavy drinkers had an increased risk of ED, albeit it is unclear how alcohol usage affects the quality of erections.

Psychology and Therapy:

For males with ED, talking to a therapist can frequently be beneficial, particularly if they also have sadness, anxiety, or low self-esteem. If there are interpersonal problems, couples therapy may be helpful.