ED: Erectile Dysfunction Facts – Free Guide

If the only precursor to staying hard is arousal, those of us who struggle with erectile dysfunction (ED) wouldn’t have to worry about not getting an erection ever again. It can be tough to explain to your partner how much sexual desire you have for them when your member has other ideas.

At CALIBRE Clinics, we hear an overwhelming number of myths and false ideas about erectile dysfunction during our treatment of it. By simply understanding erectile dysfunction more, you may find ways to combat it before a need for treatment. Our guide to erectile dysfunction will, hopefully, alleviate some of your concerns and provide you with some suggestions to address the issue.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction means you cannot get an erection or keep the penis hard enough to engage in sexual intercourse. It is also known as impotence or abbreviated to ED.

How common is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is extremely common! In fact, the number of men affected by ED is expected to reach 322 million in the next 4-years. It is normal to experience erectile dysfunction from time to time or even in periods throughout your life, known as situational erectile dysfunction or short term ED. It is common to experience this type of erectile dysfunction on the odd occasion due to a number of psychological factors. It is also much more prevalent to experience erectile dysfunction as you age, with 52% of men between 40 to 70-years of age experiencing some degree of ED.

What causes situational erectile dysfunction?

The main contributor of situational erectile dysfunction is your headspace, for example, performance anxiety or nerves related to being with a new sexual partner or placing too many expectations on yourself in the bedroom. Psychologically, there is a lot of pressure on men to perform well during sex. And, fair enough, this kind of pressure can get anyone out of the moment and into their head. If you wake up stiff or maintain an erection whilst masturbating, this is a good indicator that your erectile dysfunction may stem from psychological factors. These psychological factors could include unresolved issues between you and a sexual partner, general anxiety, stress or depression.

What about ‘whisky dick?’

Psychological factors may not be why you experience situational erectile dysfunction; instead, it may be whisky dick. Whilst alcohol often acts as a sexual enabler, it can also prevent you from getting hard. Whisky dick is the inability to get hard after excessive alcohol consumption. Whisky dick happens because alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant and impairs the circulation and blood flow required for you to achieve an erection.

When is my erectile dysfunction too frequent?

According to Everyday Health, if a man experiences erectile dysfunction up to 20 per cent of the time he has sex, it’s considered normal situational erectile dysfunction. So, if you struggled to get hard 2 out of the last 10 times you’ve had sex—it’s completely normal. More than this, however, and you may be looking at a mild case of erectile dysfunction. If you are experiencing erectile dysfunction more frequently or if it’s getting worse, it is time to talk to your doctor about it.

What causes chronic erectile dysfunction?

When your erectile dysfunction occurs too frequently, it may be due to a physical issue instead.

The following may cause erectile dysfunction:

• General ageing
• Conditions affecting the nerves
• Excessive weight gain or obesity
• Reduced blood flow due to clogged arteries
• Prolonged alcohol consumption
• Smoking
• Drug use
• Side effects of medication

How does aging affect erectile dysfunction?

With more years behind us and plenty of sexual experience, you would think our sexual performance would improve. Unfortunately, natural aging is a large contributor to an uncooperative penis in the bedroom. The natural decrease in testosterone levels as a man gets older and the loss of muscle retention in the vessels of the penis; play a big role in ED. More commonly, the direct cause of erectile dysfunction is because of common health conditions amongst older men, such as:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Cardiovascular disease
• Peyronie’s, Parkinson’s, or Alzheimer’s disease
• Hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid gland)
• Hypogonadism (testicles can’t produce enough sperm)
• Prostate cancer or diseases

It’s common for over half of men between 40 and 70-years old to experience ED as a side effect of the above conditions or from the medication they take to treat these conditions. Just because many factors contribute to erectile dysfunction in older men, it doesn’t mean it has to become your reality.

How do I combat erectile dysfunction?

To combat erectile dysfunction from psychological issues, talking to a mental health professional or a trusted friend can reduce your feelings of stress and performance anxiety. It’s perfectly normal to experience nerves with a new sexual partner; however, communicating your feelings, wants and desires in and out of the bedroom could take some of the pressure off your shoulders.

To prevent erectile dysfunction resulting from physical causes, maintain a healthy lifestyle by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, not smoking and avoiding excessive alcohol consumption. At CALIBRE, we help men gain confidence back in the bedroom through our proven treatments of erectile dysfunction.

Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP)

As mentioned, the erectile tissue in the penis starts to deteriorate with age. Our Platelet Rich Plasma procedure works to repair this tissue to provide a healthier erection. The PRP involves using your concentrated bioactive proteins and blood platelets to activate stem cells and stimulate regeneration. You can read more about this treatment option for erectile dysfunction here.

Low-Intensity Shock Wave Therapy (LISWT)

We also offer Low-Intensity Shock Wave Therapy at our erectile dysfunction treatment clinic in Perth. This is a sonic erectile dysfunction treatment using short bursts of sound waves to increase blood vessel production and dilation. You can read more about this treatment option here. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our friendly team members for an initial consultation. At this first meeting, we can determine which treatment for erectile dysfunction suits you best.