Erectile dysfunction, or ED, the inability to achieve or sustain an erection, troubles 18 million American men. The National Institutes of Health estimate that between 15% and 25% of 65 year old men experience erectile dysfunction on a chronic basis, interfering with their ability to enjoy sexual intercourse.

Erectile dysfunction is not a problem with sexual desire, or ejaculation. Most men at some point in their life have an occasional failure to achieve an erection, but erectile dysfunction is a chronic condition. There are many possible causes of erectile dysfunction, and if this problem affects you, don’t suffer in silence. The cause of your condition can be diagnosed by a urologist, and in New York City, Dr. Melman sees many patients achieve sexual satisfaction after their condition is diagnosed and treated. A top American urologist, Dr. Melman is available for consultation in New York City.

You may experience problems with erections as a result of medications you take, fatigue, alcohol, or chronic diseases that include diabetes. For an erection to occur, blood circulation to the penis must be sufficient, and the nerves to the penis must function properly. When the blood flows to the penis during the process of erection, veins within the penis collect the blood and keep it within the penis until ejaculation, under normal circumstances.

With erectile dysfunction, any of these processes may go awry, leaving some men unable to achieve and sustain an erection more than 50% of the time. If this problem is keeping you from sexual enjoyment, you should consult a top urologist with experience in the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction.

In problems of circulation that contribute to erectile dysfunction, the veins of the penis may leak, or patients sometimes have difficulty achieving adequate blood flow to the penis because of atherosclerotic disease, which causes narrowing of the arteries through build-up of plaque.

Other causes of erectile dysfunction are caused by psychological factors. The brain must stimulate the erectile impulse, and depression, anxiety, and stress can all contribute to ED.

Some causes of erectile dysfunction can be treated by behavioral changes, which may include reducing the intake of alcohol or learning cognitive techniques to enable relaxation and relief of any performance anxiety. An experienced urologist will ultimately be able to perform the correct tests to identify the cause of your problem, and will be able to prescribe the best course of treatment. Your family doctor may address the symptoms by prescribing an oral medication like Viagra®, but a urologist has a variety of other treatment options to choose from, depending upon the etiology of your problem.

Treatments for erectile dysfunction include medications, penile injections, and surgically implanted devices known as penile implants. Dr. Melman, a leading urologist in the United States, sees many patients in his New York City practice who suffer from ED. His experience enables him is able to make the best recommendations in personal consultation with each patient. Contact us today to schedule a consultation, it may change your life.