Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the persistent inability to attain or maintain penile erection sufficiently for sexual intercourse. ED is characterized by the inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficiently to achieve penetration and to complete sexual intercourse. The severity of ED is often described as mild, moderate, or complete, although these terms have not been precisely defined.
Adequate function of four organ systems must be present for a man to experience a normal erection. There are the vascular, neurologic, psychologic and endocrine systems.
An estimated 10-30 million American men have some degree of erectile dysfunction. Although the incidence of ED increases steadily with age, it is not an inevitable consequence of aging.
The extent of evaluation and treatment is dependent on the man's goals for sexual function and personal preferences. Medications and nonsurgical treatments include endocrine therapy intracavernous self-injections of vasoactive drugs, vacuum therapy, intraurethral therapy topical treatments and oral therapy. Surgical options are also available.
The Medifocus Guide on Erectile Dysfunction provides answers to the following important questions and medical issues:
What are the most common symptoms of erectile dysfunction?
Are there any recognized risk factors for developing erectile dysfunction?
What kinds of medical tests are used to establish the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction?
What is the current standard of care for the treatment of erectile dysfunction?
What treatment options are available for the management of erectile dysfunction?
Are there any promising new developments or potential breakthroughs in treatment?
Who are the most notable medical authorities who specialize in erectile dysfunction?
Where are the leading hospitals and centers of research for erectile dysfunction?
What are the most important questions to ask my doctor about erectile dysfunction?
What Your Doctor Reads:
This MediFocus Guide contains an extensive listing of citations and abstracts of recent journal articles that have been published about this condition in trustworthy medical journals. This is the same type of information that is available to physicians and other health care professionals. A partial selection of journal articles that are abstracted in this MediFocus Guide includes:
Imaging in male hypofertility and impotence. Bju International. 2000
Treatment of endocrinologic male sexual dysfunction. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. 2000
UK management guidelines for erectile dysfunction. BMJ. 2000
Cardiovascular risk and sildenafil. American Journal of Cardiology. 2000
Cardiac disease, anxiety, and sexual functioning. American Journal of Cardiology. 2000
The mutually reinforcing triad of depressive symptoms, cardiovascular disease, and erectile dysfunction. American Journal of Cardiology. 2000
Erectile dysfunction: from biochemical pharmacology to advances in medical therapy. European Journal of Endocrinology. 2000
The Israel Heart Society Expert Consensus Document: the cardiac patient and sexual activity in the era of sildenafil (Viagra). Israel Medical Association Journal: IMAJ. 2000
The dual control model of male sexual response: a theoretical approach to centrally mediated erectile dysfunction. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2000
Central neuropharmacological agents and mechanisms in erectile dysfunction: the role of dopamine. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews. 2000
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