Erectyle dysfunction

Essay by Bill ZuhoskiCollege, UndergraduateA, May 2004

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Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the consistent inability to attain and maintain penile erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse. Erectile dysfunction affects as many as 30 million men in the United States. The cause may be vascular, neurogenic, hormonal, drug-related, psychogenic, or a combination. Fortunately, several treatment options and medications have been made available to the public in recent years, and has had a positive effect on millions of men throughout the world.

There are many causes and contributions to the etiology of ED. Other than organically caused erection difficulties, anxiety is most commonly associated with erectile dysfunction. However, almost any disease may affect erectile function by altering the nervous, vascular, or hormonal systems, and altering men's psychologic mood and behavior. There are numerous types of diseases that have been associated with ED such as Vascular Diseases which include, Atherosclerosis, Peripheral vascular disease, Mypcardial infarction, Arterial hypertension, Myocardial infarction, Blood vessel and nerve trauma, and Medications related to treatment of vascular disease to name only a few.

Systemic diseases that are associated with ED include Diabetes mellitus, Renal failure, Scleroderma, Liver cirrhosis, Cancer and cancer treatment, and hypertension. Neurogenic Diseases that are associated with ED include, Epilepsy, Stroke, Multiple sclerosis, Guillain-Barré syndrome, Alzheimer disease, and Trauma. Respitory diseases associated with ED include Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and Sleep apnea. Endocrine conditions associated with ED include Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, Hypogonadism, and Diabetes. Penile conditions associated with ED include, Peyronie disease, Epispadias, and Priapism. Psychiatric conditions that are associated with ED include, Depression, Widower syndrome, perfromance anxiety, and Posttraumatic stress disorder. Hematologic diseases associated with ED include Sickle cell anemia, and Leukemias. Diabetes is also a well-recognized risk factor for ED, with approximately 50% of diabetic men experiencing erectille difficulty. Along with the numerous diseases that are associated...