| Two types of erectile dysfunction are distinguished. Rare as it is, primary erectile dysfunction means that a male has never had an erection sufficient for intercourse. Secondary erectile dysfunction, a loss of erectile ability after a normal function, commonly proceeds gradually unless resulted from an injury or sudden medical condition. People once considered that erectile dysfunction was commonly triggered by psychological problems. But we now know that factors such as stress, depression and fear of poor performance in bed are at the causes of only 10% to 20% of ED. In most cases it is brought on by physical factors, such as vascular disorders, neurological disorders, penile abnormalities. ED can also be an adverse side effect of certain prescriptions and over-the-counter medications.
However, whatever the causes are, it is typical of males who have erectile dysfunction to have feelings of anxiety, guilt and low self-esteem and confidence.
There are only three drug therapies approved by the FDA to treat erectile dysfunction: Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra. The medicines relax the walls of the penis allowing more blood to flow to the organ, so that when a male is sexually stimulated, he can attain an erection.
Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra work by a similar mechanism to trigger erections. There are subtle differences in how long and how quickly the drug takes effect. Levitra works a bit longer than Viagra. They both take effect in about thirty minutes. With Levitra, the effects last for about 5 hours. With Viagra, the effects last around 4 hours. Cialis works a little quicker (in about 15 minutes after administration), and the effects last a lot longer - up to 36 hours in some cases.
But while each medication has proven powerful, none is cure-all. Moreover they can cause problems if taken with other medications, in particular with nitrate or nitroglycerin cardiac medications, as well as cause more general side effects, such as splitting headaches and - in the case of Viagra - blurred vision.
Alongside drugs, there are other methods of treatments, such as mechanical therapies and surgery for severe cases of erectile dysfunction. The type of treatment, consequently, depends upon the severity of the disorder. |
