Erectile Dysfunction
Help! I'm Having a Hard Time with Sex!
First, you're Not Alone!
This is a problem more and more men are facing. Because it's not necessarily something that many men discuss with their families or friends, it can make you feel alone in dealing with these issues. Rest assured that anything you have to say in the matter, your doctor has heard similar stories before. Don't be embarrassed to bring this up with your doctor, and keep in mind that while not every doctor is going to ask you directly about it, they should all be happy to treat it or refer you to a specialist who will.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
This is something different for everyone. While it is normal for aging men to take longer amounts of time to achieve an erection, and then to be able to orgasm, it is not normal to be unable to get an erection at all, and it is not normal to be unable to have sex. If you start to have these issues, talk to your doctor because there are ways we can help.
Is it Low Testosterone?
The short answer is no, probably not. The "Low T" advertisements and marketing campaigns are largely that: campaigns. They're designed to prey upon people feeling vulnerable, and unfortunately supplementing testosterone (through patches, gels, or injections) has not been shown in any rigorous scientific study to improve sexual performance, energy, or muscle tone. They have been shown however to increase your risk of heart attacks and strokes, which makes them a dangerous placebo.
What Can I Do About It, Though?
There are some lifestyle changes that you can make to improve your sex life.
Getting 8 hours of sleep. When your body is tired, it shows through a number of levels including your sexual desire and function
Exercising regularly. While cardiovascular exercise (running, bicycling, swimming, etc.) is excellent for your health, it's important to mix some resistance exercise as well.
Resistance exercises are things like running sprints, doing push-ups or sit-ups, or lifting weights. This is a natural way to increase your energy, mood, and your sex life. It will also help you to lose weight, get better control of your diabetes, and lower your blood pressure. See here for more info!
Do your best to Quit Smoking. Smoking constricts blood vessels, which directly contradicts how erections form.
When you're looking to have sex, avoid alcohol and recreational drugs.
Try to avoid being stressed about it. While this is easier said than done, try to remember that it should be a fun activity between you and your partner. If you you're too "in your head" you won't be able to enjoy yourself.
Keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in a healthy range. If you have Diabetes or High Blood Pressure, these things can both affect your sex life.
In That Case, What Can The Doctor Do?
Actually there are a few things. In the short term, doctors can prescribe medication like Viagra (or ideally the generic, Sildenafil), Cialis (or its generic, Tadalafil), or similar medications to help create an erection. These medications are safe (unless combined with medications called "nitrates" such as nitroglycerine for heart problems), and use your body's own normal chemical receptors to relax blood vessels that allows an erection to form. Because it dilates (relaxes) blood vessels you may experience some flushing or redness of the face, headache, or runny nose but if you start feeling short of breath or having chest pain you should stop and call your doctor.
If these medications are ineffective, talk to your doctor because there are other options you can look into. They may refer you to a Urologist, who is a specialist in these matters.
Unfortunately, these medications can also be very expensive. Nearly no insurance company will help pay for them, so I would recommend taking a look at ways to make medicine more affordable. Your doctor may also know of local pharmacies with discounts and deals to point you towards.