How to avoid ED - what not to do

Suffering from erectile dysfunction can be very stressful and embarrassing. For some men, this will mean reacting in negative ways which will prevent or hinder their finding help or could even exacerbate the problem. We are going to consider a number of possible reactions which should be avoided:

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Avoid your GP

Many men are embarrassed to talk about erectile dysfunction with anyone, even their doctor, but it is important to remember that your doctor has dealt with this problem on many occasions and there is no reason to be embarrassed.

More importantly, erectile dysfunction can be an early warning system being a symptom of some underlying condition that may be serious and need some medical attention. These conditions can include diabetes, heart disease, vascular disease, atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries, abnormal hormone levels, high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

Your doctor will give you a physical examination and will ask for blood tests to be taken to check for evidence of a variety of conditions. In addition, he will ask about your lifestyle, how much exercise you take, how much alcohol you drink, ask if you smoke and check your weight as obesity can be the primary factor in erectile dysfunction.

The doctor will then be able to suggest lifestyle changes and prescribe medication if required. It may be that the doctor considers that psychological issues may be causing or contributing to the problem in which case he may recommend some form of counseling.

Stop communicating!

As well as communicating with your doctor it is extremely important not to shut your partner out of the situation. When a person suffers from erectile dysfunction it is not uncommon for the partner to feel that they are in some way to blame and this may result in their developing self esteem issues. Talking to your partner and tackling the issue together will help to avoid this and will help both of you. As they say, a problem shared is a problem halved and facing the problem together will make the partnership closer and stronger.

Blame your partner!

Some men may be so embarrassed that they cannot achieve an erection that they lash out at their partner and blame them! If there are problems in the relationship this could be contributing to the problem. If a man can achieve an erection at other times but cannot when he is with his partner then this could point to a lack of sexual desire for that person.

If you have erectile dysfunction and value your partnership however it is extremely important not to blame your partner as this will undoubtedly undermine the relationship and ultimately could destroy it.

Assume that it is part of the aging process

As a man gets older the chances of developing erectile dysfunction increase, however, this does not mean that you have reached the end of your sexual life; there are many different ways to treat the problem and a man can remain sexually active into old age.

There are a number of medical problems that can cause ED and some of them are age-related. These medical conditions include:

There is treatment available for the majority of these medical conditions and if the condition is treated or cured then the Ed will most likely correct itself.

Treatment that can help ED is also available. The options include:

Medication in the form of PDE 5 inhibitors (Viagra is one of these)
External mechanical devices such as febrile rings and vacuum devices
Surgical procedures such as vascular reconstructive surgery and implant surgery
Talking therapies. These can include CBT (cognitive behavior therapy), psychotherapy and psychosexual therapy

Resign yourself to your lot

Some men may not realise that there is a lot of help available in treating erectile dysfunction and so resign themselves to a sexless life.

We have covered areas that may help men who feel like this, the first being to seek help from your doctor. It is a myth that there is nothing that you can do!

Believe the myths

Speaking of myths, there are a number of them that exist in regards to erectile dysfunction:

Erectile dysfunction only happens to older men - it is true that erectile dysfunction is more common in men as they get older, however, men of any age can suffer from the problem. Some medical conditions which can occur in men of any age such as diabetes, obesity, kidney disease, heart disease, high blood pressure and smoking can all increase a man’s chances of suffering from erectile dysfunction. Some medication can also cause ED such as antidepressants and medication for high blood pressure.
Erectile dysfunction is a normal part of the aging process - as mentioned earlier, whilst ED is more common in older men it is not predestined as ED is a medical condition which can have detrimental effects on a man's life whatever his age; it can be treated whether you are aged 20 or 90.
Only men are affected by erectile dysfunction - this rather suggests that partners are not affected which is clearly not the case. In cases of ED, the partner may feel rejected and unattractive and be left fearing for their relationship. The lack of intimacy in a relationship can lead to its breakdown if the problem is not addressed.
Tight underwear causes ED - this is a myth that has been associated with infertility as the temperature in the testicles can rise if tight underwear is worn. There is no medical research to suggest that wearing tight underwear causes erectile dysfunction.
If you have erectile dysfunction there must be problems in your relationship - if there are problems in a relationship this may affect a man's desire to have sex but most cases of erectile dysfunction are in fact physiological and not psychological. However, it must be remembered that ED problems have had a negative impact on a relationship and could actually cause problems within it.
The only treatment for ED is Viagra - there are many things that can improve ED including lifestyle changes such as giving up smoking, losing weight, taking regular exercise and reducing levels of stress. It is also important that any underlying medical conditions that may be causing the ED are treated and if there are psychological factors, they must also be addressed.
Men with erectile dysfunction do not feel desire - sexual desire is caused by a man's hormones and erectile dysfunction does not necessarily mean a lack of desire. However, a man suffering from ED may avoid sex because they are fearful that they will not be able to achieve an erection and do not wish to disappoint their partner. ED may even cause a man to develop performance anxiety.
Trouble getting an erection means you have erectile dysfunction - men are not necessarily always ‘up for sex’. A man may have personal problems, be under a lot of stress, be anxious and not sleeping well and any of these problems can adversely affect a man’s ability to have sex. The belief that men are always in the mood for sex can result in there being pressure to perform.
ED is not dangerous - it is true that erectile dysfunction in itself is not dangerous, it can be a symptom of an underlying medical condition which may be dangerous such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure
Herbal treatments can treat ED - to date, there is no scientific evidence to prove that herbal supplements can help to treat ED. it is important to be aware that these supplements may not be licensed and so are not tightly regulated as they would be if they were licensed. Herbal supplements may interfere with medications you may be taking as well as causing side effects