Erectile dysfunction: myths and reality

Erectile dysfunction is a delicate issue. When the male sexual organ does not increase in volume at the right moment, does not straighten out, or does not have enough stamina to complete the act, both the man and the woman prefer to pretend that nothing has happened. That's why erectile dysfunction is overgrown with a lot of myths.

In fact: you can only talk about erectile dysfunction if more than 25% of sexual acts fail. If there are fewer "misfires", this is within the normal range. And healthy people also have episodes of erectile dysfunction. The reasons are diverse: fatigue, stress, unattractiveness of the partner. Fear abruptly kills an erection (for example, when meeting a new partner) due to the adrenaline released into the blood.

In fact: erectile dysfunction is possible at different ages. Anyone who smokes a lot, has sex irregularly, and runs only for beer to the stall and to the departing minibus or bus, runs the risk of getting acquainted with erectile dysfunction at the age of thirty. Conversely, a supporter of a healthy lifestyle who has been sexually active all his adult years, and at the age of 70 can laugh and listen to jokes about male sexual impotence.

Of course, body functions fade with age, but most Russians assume sexual old age too early. We hear on TV: "Half of men over the age of 40 suffer from erectile dysfunction." And it seems that this is normal and should start immediately after the anniversary. In fact, 40 years is a little early. The first changes can begin in a healthy person after the age of 50, and only at the age of 60 does the level of the hormone testosterone, which determines interest in sex, significantly decrease in the blood.

In fact: if a man didn't feel attracted to this woman, he wouldn't even try, wouldn't bring the acquaintance to bed. After all, unlike women, men are rarely motivated to have sex for external reasons like "to save the family." As a rule, they are guided solely by their attraction. Don't make final conclusions based on a couple of failed attempts.

In fact: a man can take special drugs just to give himself confidence. If you find potency enhancement products in your loved one's bedside table, don't panic. The effectiveness of such drugs is often based on the placebo effect – when the patient believes that the drug should work and really feels improvements, even though he is taking a pharmaceutical pacifier like harmless ascorbic acid. Experiments were conducted: one group was given real pills that improve blood flow in the penis and cause its vessels to fill with blood, and the other group was given a placebo. An improvement in erection was observed in both groups.

If a man has started taking such pills, you can carefully try to find out what is holding him back. The reasons are often very simple, and a man is afraid to hurt a woman by talking about them. One day, a patient asked me to write a prescription because he couldn't handle it. … with his disgust for the color of his partner's nail polish. She really liked this polish and he didn't want to upset her.

In fact: a man who takes an aphrodisiac in an inappropriate situation and suffers from an inappropriate erection is most likely a plot from comedies. In real life, to get an erection, pills alone are not enough, you also need the presence of a sexually attractive partner and elements of a love game: foreplay, caresses, kisses. The pill causes a more pronounced response to these stimuli, but does not replace them.

In fact: pills cause side effects – increased blood flow to the head, redness of the face, have a tonic effect, and can raise overall blood pressure. Pharmaceutical drugs are incompatible with alcohol and a number of cardiac medications. This is important: most cases of erectile dysfunction occur in men over the age of 60 who take heart medications. Therefore, the pills should be prescribed by a doctor, not a "seasoned" colleague.

In fact: erectile dysfunction can actually be associated with other diseases, for example, diabetes mellitus: it dramatically changes the structure of small vessels. A variety of infections, including the flu, can also cause sexual problems. Even after a common cold, it takes 5 days to recover.

Another common cause is diseases of the prostate gland: vascular nerve bundles pass along its sides, which are important for the appearance of an erection. Alarm signals – violation of urination, frequent urge, unpleasant sensations. This is a reason to consult a urologist, including to exclude a malignant disease.