One of the common questions is whether or not the ED is reversible?
Unfortunately, with a few exceptions* the answer is NO.
This makes it such that treatment is needed to resume intercourse.
*The exceptions are
- Psychogenic ED
- Vascular ED
- Hormonal ED
- Smoking related ED
Psychogenic ED:
Is more common in younger men. Anxiety is the hallmark of psychogenic ED. The anxiety can be based upon fear of failure, fear or intimacy, fear of sexual adequacy. When a person is anxious, his fight or flight hormones –the adrenalines- are released and those hormones can completely prevent or prematurely stop an erection.
Vascular ED:
Is caused by damage to the arteries going to the penis. In younger men this can happen after trauma, such as a pelvic fracture or a straddle injury ( when you jump over a fence and don’t make it). That injury can be corrected with micro-vascular surgery. Quitting smoking helps to decrease vascular compromise as well.
Hormonal issues:
This usually involve low testosterone levels. This is not a common cause of ED. However, particularly in men with a very low sex drive, this is a cause that needs to be ruled out and can be done with a simple blood test.
Smoking:
Smoking leads to plaque build up in the arteries. This is called atherosclerosis. The build up of plaque obstructs some of the blood flow to the penis. Smoking a pack a day or more lead to a 60% greater risk of ED when compared to non smokers in a recent study.
Stay tuned for our next blog post on the Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction.