Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction and Treatments
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) affects a significant portion of the male population in the United States, spanning several age groups. While it's often associated with older men, research indicates that ED can impact individuals across various age ranges. Approximately 40% of men over the age of 40 experience some degree of erectile dysfunction, with the prevalence increasing with age. It is also becoming more prevalent in younger men with around 1 in 4 under the age of 40 reporting occasional difficulties with erections. This trend has been attributed to factors such as sedentary lifestyles, stress, performance anxiety, and the increasing prevalence of chronic health conditions like obesity and diabetes among younger populations. Additionally, psychological factors such as depression and relationship issues can contribute to ED across all age groups. We highly recommend seeing us in person if at our physical location in Hagerstown, MD if considering options beyond oral therapy.
What are the common causes of ED?
Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, depression
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Physical health issues like diabetes, heart disease, obesity
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Lifestyle factors including smoking, excessive alcohol consumption
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Neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis
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Hormonal imbalances, especially low testosterone levels
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Medications like antidepressants and antihypertensives
What options exist to treat ED?
PDE5 Inhibitors (PDE5i): Medications like sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra) work by increasing blood flow to the penis, facilitating erections. These drugs are taken orally and are most effective when combined with sexual stimulation.
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Penile Pumps: Also known as vacuum erection devices, these devices consist of a cylinder and a pump. The cylinder is placed over the penis, and the pump removes air from the cylinder, creating a vacuum that draws blood into the penis, resulting in an erection. A constriction ring is then placed at the base of the penis to maintain the erection. Pumps are easily purchased online.
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Penile Injection Therapy (ICI): This involves injecting medication directly into the penis to induce an erection. Alprostadil is a commonly used medication for this purpose. It works by dilating blood vessels, increasing blood flow to the penis. Other formulations like bimix, trimix, and quad mix combine different medications for enhanced efficacy.
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Penile Prosthesis: For men who do not respond to other treatments, or for those who prefer a more permanent solution, penile prostheses can be implanted surgically. These devices are placed inside the penis to simulate an erection. There are two main types: inflatable prostheses, which allow the user to inflate and deflate the device as needed, and malleable prostheses, which remain firm but can be bent downwards for concealment. This is the most extreme option and is generally for patients with neurovascular bundle damage from prostate cancer or other disease causes. While we do not perform these, we can provide a referral if warranted.
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Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP): An emerging technique to help ED, growing evidence is showing that a PRP injection regimen improves erectile function and quality. Studies that do exist sound promising but do have some limiting factors. For refractory issues to other therapies, this may be an attractive option for some.
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Low Intensity Shockwave Therapy (LISWT): Like PRP, LIWST is increasing becoming popular to help remedy erectile issues. Its strongest position is in men with mild to moderate ED with recalcitrant issues despite other therapies. It can also used as solo therapy or combined with PRP to achieve optimal results.
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Options available are based on several health factors and are individualistic. We are able to make recommendations and offer treatment based on these factors. At current, we do not offer LiWST but have plans to offer this in the future (2025)!
Looking to rise to the occasion?
Get in touch so we can start working together and start providing you with results.
Address
18117 Maugans Ave Ste 201
Hagerstown, MD 21740
Phone
240-563-9247