Erectile Dysfunction also known as ED or Impotence, is such a tender subject that sometimes you can’t even discuss it with your partner. It’s a situation that really can affect you, not only is your sex life affected but it can also have deep seated psychological effects, causing loss of self confidence, anxiety and sometimes even depression.
The medical definition of erectile dysfunction is: ‘the inability to get and maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse’.
The NHS estimates that half of all men between the age of 40 and 70 will suffer from Erectile Dysfunction at sometime in their lives to differing degrees. It is not just limited to that age range, men as young as 18 have been reported to suffer from erectile dysfunction. It is more common than you may think.
Erectile Dysfunction can occur for a number of reasons, these can be physical (physiological) reasons and/or psychological reasons.
Physical causes of Erectile Dysfunction may include:
- Narrowing of the blood vessels going to the penis. This is associated with high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
- Hormonal problems
- Trauma or Surgery.
Psychological causes of Erectile Dysfunction may include:
- Relationship problems
- Anxiety
- Depression
Certain medicines have the potential to cause Erectile Dysfunction:
- Medicines used in chemotherapy.
- Medicines used to treat high blood pressure.
- Medicines used to treat high cholesterol (Fibrates)
- Medicines used to treat mental health conditions.
- Medicines used to treat depression
- Medicines containing steroids such as prednisolone.
- Medicines used to treat stomach ulcers.
- Medicines used to treat epilepsy.
- Medicines used to treat allergic conditions.
(If you are concerned that your medicines could be causing your Erectile Dysfunction, please do not hesitate to phone and speak to one of the Pharmacykwik Pharmacists; Mukaram & Mudassar are both male and are experts in medicine – if one or more of your medicines is causing erectile dysfunction there could be an alternative medication that your GP could possibly transfer you to).
It’s not only medicines that can cause erectile dysfunction. One’s state of mind can potentially cause ED. Depression and/or anxiety can both play huge roles in erectile dysfunction. Unfortunately BOTH these causative agents – physical and mental go hand in hand. For example if you have a situation where you have poor blood flow/circulation, maybe after a heart attack or if you are diabetic this can predispose you to having erection problems. This in itself causes you to feel anxious when you need to ‘perform’ and inevitably can lead to depression.
Emotional problems also play a part in being able to get and maintain an erection. These emotional problems may include:
- lack of sexual knowledge
- being in a new relationship
- being unable to talk to your partner about your erectile dysfunction problems
Clinical problems, medicines we take and emotional/psychological causes of ED are factors or issues we find difficult to change. There are however other causes of erectile dysfunction that are within our control to change and sometimes simple changes in lifestyle can prove to be positive with many men reporting that their erectile dysfunction has been reversed. These other potential causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- Using illicit drugs e.g. Cannabis, Ecstasy, Heroin and Cocaine
- Tiredness
- Excessive alcohol consumption
What should I do if I have erectile dysfuction or if I have trouble maintaining an erection?
In the first instance your GP can diagnose erectile dysfunction. Your GP will ask questions that will help diagnose the situation. These may include; what your symptoms are, your physical and mental health, alcohol consumption, use of illicit drugs, current medication.
If you do not want to talk to your GP about ED, you can always visit a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. You can find your local GUM clinic through this link: http://www.bashh.org
Your GP may want to know about your sexual history, we understand that this maybe embarrassing for you, this is one of the main reasons we launched the online doctor serevice here at PharmacyKwik. All our GP consultations are done from the comfort of your own home. You very rarely have to speak to anyone and your medicines are delivered to your door – the very next day*!!
Typically GP’s will want to know the following before they will come to a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction:
- They may want to know about your previous and current sexual relationships.
- They may want to know what your sexual orientation is
- They will want to know how long you have been experiencing ED
- They will need to know whether you can get any degree of erection with your partner, on your own or when you wake up in the morning
- They will need to know whether you have been able to ejaculate or orgasm
- They will need to know if your libido has been affected (your level of sexual desire).
Generally speaking if your erectile dysfunction occurs all the time it may suggest that there may be an underlying physical cause. If your erectile dysfunction occurs when you are attempting to have sex with your partner – this is indicative that there may be an underlying psychological cause. Either way erectile dysfunction medication may be able to cure this problem.
Erectile dysfunction is linked to the narrowing of the blood vessel that supply the penis with blood. During an erection the blood flow through these vessels increases – causing the erection. Narrowing of blood vessels can occur in cardiovascular disease; high blood pressure and high cholesterol can all contribute to this narrowing. For this reason your GP will have to assess your cardiovascular health. This assessment may include:
- Measuring your blood pressure
- Listening to your heart
- Measuring height, wright and waist circumference (just to check you are the correct weight for your height as obesity has also been linked to erectile dysfunction).
Your GP will ask about your lifestyle; exercise, diet, smoking etc.
Your GP may even request that you have a blood test. The aim here is that your blood will be tested for glucose and fats. (High levels of glucose and fats (lipids) in your blood can be indicative of conditions that affect your heart or blood vessels.
Your GP may also conduct a physical examination of your penis to rule out any anatomical abnormalities.
Here at PharmacyKwik, we believe our online doctor service is the most convenient, discreet and professional online doctor service on the internet. All the erectile dysfunction medicines we supply, which include:
- Viagra
- Cialis
- Levitra
- Generic version of Viagra
Are ALL sourced from established UK pharmaceutical wholesalers and are 100% genuine. PharmacyKwik is regulated by the General Pharmaceutical Council, which is the regulatory body for pharmacy and pharmacies in the UK.
At PharmacyKwik ALL medicines are dispensed and checked by UK qualified pharmacists before they are dispatched to you.
Your medication will be sent out using the Royal Mail ‘NEXT DAY signed for’ service. Discretion and confidentiality is at the forefront of our service and we never advertise on the package that your medication has come from PharmacyKwik.
If you already have a private prescription for ANY medicine, then you can send it to us by post (we recommend you sent it recorded delivery) to:
PharmacyKwik,
Rear Unit,
56 Parksway,
Prestwich,
Manchester,
M25 0JB.
We will dispense your medication and send it out using the Royal Mail special delivery ‘signed for’ service. If you simply want a quote on any medicine, then please do not hesitate to call us (0161 7731456), we are ALWAYS happy to help.