Erectile Dysfunction (ED) affects penis erections and thus, many men hesitate to discuss this disorder for the first time. ED, a common male sexual function, affects males of all ages, mostly 40 to 70 years of age. By asking a few questions to a healthcare provider about ED, you can learn how to cure it. 

So what are the questions you should ask your healthcare provider about ED? Here is a checklist of questions to ask:

1. Am I the Only Person Experiencing ED? 

ED is growing common and tends to affect most males at one time or another. Aging is one of the reasons behind ED and the symptoms are more common in men who are above 35 years old. As the initial symptoms are mild and transitory, you can avoid them as they are mostly related to fatigue, and alcohol/coffee drinking. Your healthcare provider will evaluate your ED condition after a thorough physical examination and detailed consultation.

2. How to Understand if My ED Has a Medical or Emotional Cause? 

Here are the health disorders that may cause ED:

  • High cholesterol 
  • Diabetes 
  • High blood pressure 
  • Cancer treatment 
  • Nerve damages 
  • Low testosterone 
  • Thyroid 
  • Attention deficit, mainly in young men 
  • Meditation side effects

Performance anxiety can also lead to ED. The anxiety produces more stress hormones that can narrow blood vessels in your penis and make it tough for blood to flow inside and causing an erection. Nerve damage or nervous system diseases can intrude on your body’s capability of processing stimulation signals that cause ED. Multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s Disease Nerve damage from strokes or spinal injuries, and other neurological issues change your brain’s ability to react to sexual stimulation and prevent an erection.

Endocrine diseases, such as thyroid or low testosterone levels, can cause hormone imbalance and erection issues. Diseases, like Peyronie’s disease, an inflammatory disorder that creates scarring in the penis, causing it to bend or curve, can also cause ED. Sometimes, you may have ED because medications are taken to treat illnesses and blood pressure methods, like beta-blockers, peptic ulcer medications, heart medications, antidepressants, and sleeping pills.

3. What are the Signs of ED?

Here are the big signs of ED:

  • Slow development 
  • Insufficient penis hardness for coitus 
  • Weakened erection when having sex 
  • Too long time taken for getting an erection 
  • Absence of quick nocturnal erections 
  • No erection when required

4. Is ED an Inevitable Thing About Getting Older or Should  Get Treated at Any Age?

ED only occurs in older men is a myth but its chance to occur increases with aging. Men suffering from ED always find it tough to accept that they are too old for their penis to erect. But, you should treat ED at any age without any hesitation. 

5. Is My ED Related to Cardiovascular or Other Critical Diseases?

ED is a major sign of future cardiovascular diseases. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) and Vascular ED share similar risk elements, including hypertension, obesity, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and metabolic syndrome. CVD and ED have common pathological methods, including atherosclerosis, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction. Cardiologist periodic visits are recommended, if you have any of the risk factors below:

  • Aging 
  • Smoking 
  • Hypertension, if you’re sedentary 
  • Obese, mainly in the abdomen area 
  • Rich family history of premature heart diseases 
  • Diabetes 
  • Elevated LDL cholesterol 
  • High triglyceride levels 

6. What is the Link Between Cardiovascular Disease and ED? 

Endothelial dysfunction is a disorder in which the endothelial layer, i.e.,  the inner lining, of your small arteries fails to function smoothly. As a consequence, many poor things may occur to the tissues supplied by the arteries. The common route linking cardiovascular disease and ED usually include endothelial dysfunction and tiny vessel atherosclerosis, which ruins the smooth muscle relaxation inside the penis.

7. Do I Require to Visit Various Types of Health Care Providers, like Urologists, Endocrinologists, Psychiatrists, or Sex Therapists? What Do These Specialists Treat? 

First, you can visit the primary care physician to start treating your ED. Even if the normal doctor doesn’t specialize in sexual medicine, they can guide you to the right experts. The primary care physician may give you a full physical overview and perform tests to address all physical causes. They can also reply to your basic questions, help in determining your options, and if required refer you to become a specialist. Numerous specialists work with primary care physicians who can identify risk factors such as hypogonadism, diabetes, and related lifestyle factors, such as smoking, drug consumption, excess alcohol drinking, and lack of everyday exercise, which may precipitate ED. 

They can use such information to ensure the correct referral to secondary care for more specialized investigations as required. Even though urologists mainly treat urinary tract disorders for both men and women, they also specialize in the male reproductive organs, such as the prostate gland, scrotum, testes, penis, and ejaculatory ducts. They can also help with disorders, such as ED, Peyronie’s disease, and Benign Prostate Hyperplasia. Such specialists can cure your ejaculatory disorders, such as ejaculation, retrograde ejaculation, and Premature Ejaculation (PE). 

Therapists and psychiatrists can help in curing the psychological issues, which cause sexual issues. For instance, psychological counseling may help you undergo difficulties in your relationship with a partner or help in coping with previous sexual abuse or trauma. You may choose to go for couples therapy with your partner in certain cases. Sex therapists prioritize direct sexual disorders rather than inherent psychological causes. They can help you better understand the physiological facets of sex. The therapists may recommend strategies, which you and your partner can do in your bedroom.

8. Is Smoking a Risk Element for ED?

Tobacco smoking causes ED via the development of atherosclerosis and endothelial dysfunctionalities. Multiple cohort and case-control studies concluded smoking was a risk element for ED in current smokers. 

The Bottomline

So, these are the questions you should ask about ED the healthcare provider to clearly understand your issues. Once you do that, you can opt for the right treatment.