Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects the lives of many middle-aged men and their partners to one extent or another. The term erectile dysfunction, previously known as impotence, covers a wide range of disorders, but usually refers to the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient enough to fulfill his own sexual needs or those of his partner.

As men age, it's quite normal to experience changes in erectile function. Erections may take longer to develop, may not be as rigid or may require more direct stimulation to be achieved. Men may also notice that orgasms are less intense, the volume of ejaculate reduces and refractory period between erections increases. An occasional episode of erectile dysfunction happens to most men but they are not psychologically affected by it

Some men, however, experience chronic and complete erectile dysfunction, while others have the ability to achieve partial or brief erections. Frequent erectile dysfunction can cause emotional and relationship problems, which often lead to low self-esteem. Erectile dysfunction has many causes, most of which are treatable, and is not an inevitable consequence of aging. Although erectile dysfunction is more common in men older than 40, it can occur at any age.

Symptoms of ED

Erectile dysfunction can be classified into the following patterns:

• Occasional inability to achieve a full erection
• Inability to maintain an erection during sexual intercourse
• Complete inability to achieve an erection

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