At NUH Urology Centre, our team of doctors who run the Men's Health Clinic is dedicated to treatment of common male health issues. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is one of the condition that is increasingly common in men nowadays. It is the inability to maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse.
An occasional inability to maintain an erection happens to most men and is normal. However, ongoing erection problems are a sign of erectile dysfunction and should be evaluated.
Causes of the condition
In the past, doctors thought psychological issues primarily caused erectile dysfunction. With better understanding of the disease, we now know that the causes of erectile dysfunction are often multi factorial. In some cases, erectile dysfunction is one of the first signs of an underlying medical problem.
Common causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- Heart disease
- Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome
Other causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- Certain prescription medications
- Tobacco use
- Alcoholism and other forms of drug abuse
- Treatments for prostate cancer
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Hormonal disorders such as low testosterone (hypogonadism)
- Peyronie's disease
- Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord
Some psychological causes include:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Fatigue
- Poor communication or conflict with your partner
Diagnosis and Treatment Options
The management of erectile dysfunction requires expert diagnosis and treatment. Our comprehensive approach begins with expert diagnosis to determine, firstly, the precise cause of the problem and subsequently, the treatment option that best suits our patients. The Erectile Dysfunction Programme at the Urology Centre offers a full range of services, with a special expertise in the most complex cases of erectile dysfunction.
Diagnosis includes sexual function history, general medical history, psychosocial history, medication history, physical examination and appropriate laboratory testing. Treatment follows diagnosis and we provide a range of treatment options, from oral medications to medications administered directly to the penis to a mechanical vacuum device applied to the penis.
Psychological treatment is an important adjunct to managing erectile dysfunction. If our diagnosis suggests a psychological association with your erectile dysfunction, we may recommend that you pursue counselling with a qualified psychologist. |
