Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Mountain View

Stand Up to ED

Mountain View Erectile Dysfunction Treatment with Healthy Male

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to attain or maintain an erection of satisfactory quality to complete intercourse. It is sometimes referred to as impotence. The degree of ED can range from mild cases where there is a slightly diminished rigidity in the penis to severe cases where a man is unable to attain any erection.

We know that the incidence of ED increases with age and that approximately 25 million Americans suffer from this condition making it one of the most common sexual problems in men. The incidence in 40-year-olds is around five to ten percent and increases to 25-30 percent in 65-year-old men. Some studies have shown that up to 50 percent of men over the age of 50 have ED. This is why our Mountain View Erectile Dysfunction Treatment is so popular.

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How does an erection occur?

The penis is an organ made up of two chambers called the corpora cavernosa that runs along the full length of the penis. These chambers are filled with spongy tissue made up of smooth muscle that becomes filled with blood, expands in size, and becomes firm. The corpora are surrounded by tough connective tissue called the tunica albuginea.

Normally functioning nerves are also important for an erection. These nerves originate from the spine and run along the prostate until they reach the penis. These nerves give the penis the signal to start an erection.

An erection is a very complex process involving coordinated, normally functioning arteries, veins, and nerves. In addition to the above, a normal erection also requires a normal level of testosterone. Adequate sensory stimulation from the brain is important for the initiation of an erection.

Perfectly Normal

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Since an erection requires a precise sequence of events, Erectile Dysfunction can occur when any of the events is disrupted. The sequence includes nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, and area around the penis, and response in muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries in and near the corpora cavernosa. The vast majority of cases of ED have an organic etiology. Organic causes of ED account for 90% of cases of this condition.

Damage to nerves, arteries, smooth muscles, and fibrous tissues, often as a result of disease, is alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, vascular disease, and neurologic disease—account for about 70 percent of ED cases. Between 35 and 50 percent of men with diabetes experience ED, and will need some form of Erectile Dysfunction Treatment. Damage to the nerves causing erection can occur with prostate, colon, or pelvic surgery or radiation.

Be Thorough

How is Erectile Dysfunction (ED) diagnosed?

Erectile Dysfunction is diagnosed by taking a thorough history and performing a physical examination. Your doctor might ask you to fill out a questionnaire to better evaluate the degree of erectile dysfunction. Laboratory tests include hormonal evaluation, PSA, and possible cardiac profile testing.

Your doctor might recommend evaluating the blood flow in your penile arteries using a Doppler Ultrasound. This is a non-invasive test, however, the test needs to be performed with a flaccid and erect penis, and this can only be accomplished by injecting a medication into the penis, causing an erection. This is done with a tiny diabetic needle. Additional testing with biothesiometry, corpus cavernosometry and cavernosography, nocturnal penile tumescence and angiography is only recommended in select situations.

Options for All

How is Erectile Dysfunction (ED) treated?

Erectile Dysfunction Treatments are available for men with ED, and Dr. Karpman will discuss any and all available treatment options with you. An Erectile Dysfunction treatment plan will be tailored to every individual’s needs. The optimal goal is to provide the least invasive yet most effective treatment that reliably delivers a firm and solid erection that is adequate to have penetrative intercourse of adequate duration to satisfy both you and your partner. With Erectile Disfunction Treatment Mountain View patients can expect options to include:

Oral medicines (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra)
Penile Rehabilitation
Hormonal Therapy
Urethral Suppositories (Muse)
Vacuum Erection Device (VED)
Penile Constriction Bands
Penile Injection Therapy (Bimix, Trimix)
Penile Prosthesis / Penile Implant

At our office in Mountain View we also offer treatments for Male Incontinence, Peyronies Disease as well as Shockwave Therapy and TRT.

Nature’s Remedy

Are there any natural alternatives to Erectile Dysfunction treatment?

There is a list of over-the-counter medications that have been shown to be successful to some extent in treating erectile dysfunction. It is important to note that any nutraceutical (herbal, over-the-counter) treatment is not evaluated or approved by the FDA and, therefore, not subject to the scrutiny that prescription medications must undergo in terms of substantiating claims made by the manufacturers or in quantifying the purity of these products. Use of these alternative medications is at your own risk.

Arginine

This is a precursor amino acid to nitric oxide. Human clinical trials have yielded mixed results. Up to 40 % of patients in one trial reported improvement in results, whereas other trials have shown no improvement. It appears more effective in ED patients with alterations in endothelial L-arginine-NO activity and a reduction in NO availability.

Yohimbine

This is a centrally acting alpha-2 antagonist which causes a reduction in brain norepinephrine levels. Human clinical trials have yielded mixed results. A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study showed that 14 percent of the treatment group experienced full-stimulated erections and 20 percent had a partial response.

Panax Ginseng

This is found to possess antioxidant and organ-protective action associated with enhanced NO synthesis in the endothelium of the corpus cavernosum. Ginsenosides have been shown to cause a dose-dependent relaxation of the corpus cavernosal smooth muscle in rabbits by increasing the release of NO. A double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study showed significant improvements in IIEF scores and penile tip rigidity by Rigiscan.

Maca

This is a root vegetable cultivated in the central Peruvian Andes that belongs to the mustard family. Dried Maca root is rich in amino acids, iodine, iron, and magnesium. This is also an aphrodisiac with fertility-enhancing properties. There is only one human randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial published in a Peruvian journal. This root improved the subjective evaluation of sexual desire in treated men. No other information was attainable.

Ginkgo biloba

Used to ameliorate antidepressant-induced sexual dysfunction. Initial open-label human trials showed it to be 76% effective in alleviating symptoms related to all phases of the sexual response cycle in men, including erectile function. However, a subsequent double-blind RCT reported no significant difference in sexual function between ginkgo and placebo.

DHEA and Tribulus Terrestris

An inverse relationship between DHEA and Erectile Dysfunction has been well established in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. A double-blind RCT in humans using DHEA 50mg has shown an improvement in achieving and maintaining erections sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance compared to a placebo. However, a small sample size made conclusions from this study difficult. An extract called protodioscin extracted from Tribulus terrestris plant improves erectile function, increases sexual function, and improves sexual behavior. Most of this information comes from Hungary and is published in small journals.

Erectile Dysfunction TreatmentFrequently Asked Questions

Is Erectile Dysfunction preventable?

The choices we make in life can lead to the degeneration of the erectile tissue and the development of Erectile Dysfunction. Smoking, drug or alcohol abuse, particularly over a long period of time, will compromise the blood vessels of the penis. Lack of exercise and a sedentary lifestyle will contribute to the development of ED. Correction of these conditions will contribute to overall health and may, in some individuals, correct mild ED. Treatment of many medical conditions can interfere with normal erections. Drugs used to treat these risk factors listed above may also lead to or worsen ED, leading to the need for an Erectile Dysfunction Treatment in Mountain View.

What could happen if I ignore my Erectile Dysfunction symptoms?

In addition to understanding the causes of ED, it is also important to recognize that Erectile Dysfunction may be an early warning sign of more serious medical conditions such as atherosclerosis and heart disease. Emerging research has shown us that up to 50 percent of men with isolated Erectile Dysfunction as their only symptom will go on to develop heart disease or atherosclerosis in the subsequent five years. In essence, we need to look at ED as an early warning sign for a much more serious condition and not only treat it as an isolated symptom.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment in Los Gatos and Mountain View, CA