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Monday, 26 November 2012

Erectile Dysfunction and Viagra

VIAGRA for Erectile Dysfunction (ED) Treatment
VIAGRA is a pill used to treat erectile dysfunction (ED/impotence) in men. It can help many men who have erectile dysfunction to get and keep an erection when they become sexually excited (stimulated).
You will not get an erection just by taking this medicine. VIAGRA helps a man with erectile dysfunction to get an erection only when he is sexually excited.
VIAGRA does not cure erectile dysfunction. It is a treatment for erectile dysfunction.

VIAGRA is not for everyone
VIAGRA is only for patients with erectile dysfunction.
VIAGRA is not for newborns, children, or women. Research is underway into the possible effectiveness of Viagra for Women, however until the results are known, we do not recommend the use of VIAGRA by women.
VIAGRA must never be used by men who are taking any medicines that contain nitrates. Nitrates are found in many prescription medicines that are used to treat angina (chest pain due to heart disease) such as nitroglycerin, isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate.
If you take VIAGRA with any nitrate medicine or illicit drug containing nitrates, your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe level. You could get dizzy, faint, or even have a heart attack or stroke.

VIAGRA DRUG INFO
IMPORTANT NOTE: The following information is intended to supplement, not substitute for, the expertise and judgment of your physician, pharmacist or other healthcare professional. Consult your healthcare professional before using this drug.

How to use: Viagra is taken by mouth as needed between four hours and one-half hour before sexual activity (about one hour before is most effective). Take only as directed, usually once daily as needed.

Possible side effects : Headache, flushing, stomach upset, nasal stuffiness, diarrhea and dizziness might occur. If these effects persist or worsen, notify your doctor promptly.
Unlikely but report promptly: painful or other urination problems, vision problems, skin rash.
Very unlikely but report promptly: chest pain, fainting, foot or ankle swelling. If you experience a painful or prolonged erection (lasting longer than 4 hours), stop using this Viagra and seek immediate medical attention. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

Overdose: If OVERDOSE is suspected, contact your local poison control center or emergency room immediately. Symptoms If OVERDOSE may include severe dizziness, fainting, or prolonged erection.

Missed Dose: Not applicable. Viagra should be used when needed and there for you are not likely to miss a dosage.

Storage : All prescription medications must be kept out of reach of children. Store Viagra at room temperature between 59 and 86 degrees F (15-30 degrees C) away from light and moisture.

Ingredients
VIAGRA, an oral therapy for erectile dysfunction, is the citrate salt of sildenafil, a selective inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)-specific phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Sildenafil citrate is designated chemically as 1-[[3-(6,7-dihydro-1-methyl-7-oxo-3-propyl-1Hpyrazolo[4,3-d]pyrimidin-5-yl)-4-ethoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-4-methylpiperazine citrate.
Sildenafil citrate is a white to off-white crystalline powder with a solubility of 3.5 mg/mL in water and a molecular weight of 666.7. VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) is formulated as blue, film-coated rounded-diamond-shaped tablets for oral administration. In addition to the active ingredient, sildenafil citrate, each tablet contains the following inactive ingredients: microcrystalline cellulose, anhydrous dibasic calcium phosphate, croscarmellose sodium, magnesium stearate, hypromellose, titanium dioxide, lactose, triacetin, and FD & C Blue #2 aluminum lake.


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Erectile Dysfunction and Surgery

In a few cases, surgery may be an option to treat erectile dysfunction. Surgery will rarely be recommended before nonsurgical treatment and counseling have been tried.

Surgery on the pelvic area, such as prostate or bladder surgery, can sometimes damage nerves there and cause erection problems. But this is much less common than it used to be. For example, a surgeon now may do a nerve-sparing radical prostatectomy as treatment for prostate cancer. Some surgeons do nerve grafts as part of surgery for prostate cancer when the nerves cannot be saved. In a nerve graft surgery, the surgeon takes nerves from another part of your body and uses them to replace nerves damaged during surgery.

A small percentage of men are candidates for erectile dysfunction surgery. Penile arterial revascularization is similar to cardiac bypass surgery. It's a procedure used to unblock blood vessels supplying the penis that may have been damaged or traumatized. Venous ligation surgery is used if blood vessels inside the penis are leaky, preventing a sustaining erection. A penile prosthesis can be implanted that inflates the penis before sexual activity, allowing the penis to stay erect. These procedures are mostly reserved for men who have some kind of penile damage or deformity but who don't have other medical conditions that affect potency.

Some forms of erectile dysfunction (ED) are treated with surgery. Depending on the cause of your difficulty in getting or maintaining an erection, there are three surgical options:
•    A device (prosthesis) is implanted into the penis that helps it become erect  
•    Damaged blood vessels in the penis can be repaired or replaced to increase blood flow needed for an erection
•    Leaky veins in the penis can be tied off to help maintain an erection


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Erectile Dysfunction and Penis Implant

Penis implant is a device implanted in the penis to treat erectile dysfunction. It is a pretty involved surgical procedure and is usually considered only if other treatment procedures (drugs, suppositories, vacuum devices, etc.) are unsuccessful. Penis implants are also used to treat Peyronie’s disease and other forms of penis deformities. The length and stretchability of the penis will be assessed by the surgeon and later the reason for erectile dysfunction will be figured out. The instructions given by the surgeon need to be followed prior to surgery.

Types of Penis implants
•    Non Inflatable Penile Implants/Semi-rigid Rod Penis Implants: It involves the simplest surgical procedure and is least expensive of all types. The required parts are implanted in the body and penis can be bent up for erection and down when not in use. In this type, malleable rods are inserted in the erection chamber of penis. These implants are firm and can be bent to erect position when required.

•    Two piece Inflatable Penis Implant: This is an in inflatable pump wherein the release valve and the pump (fitted with fluid reservoir) are both placed in the scrotum. To achieve an erection the man has to squeeze on the scrotum which will inflate the device within and cause an erection.  It is the simplest inflatable implant and is completely concealed within the body.

•    Three piece Inflatable Penis Implant: Same as the 2 piece inflatable implant but with this type of implant, the fluid reservoir is kept not part of the pump, rather it is implanted in the abdominal valve. The device is easier to inflate compared to the two piece implant.

Penile Implant Procedure
This procedure takes up to one and a half hours. A general or spinal anesthesia is used and the urine is drained by using a catheter. An incision is made below the penis head and the Corpora cavernosa is dilated. Antibiotic fluids are flushed and the implants are inserted. A pump is placed inside the scrotum and the incisions are closed.

Risks
Penis implant surgery involves the following risks:
1. Mechanical failure of the implant
2. Infection
3. Internal erosion


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Erectile Dysfunction and Penis Pump

Penis pump or penile pump is a popular means to treat individuals suffering from erectile dysfunction and is opted by many men for whom PDE5 inhibiting oral medications don’t work. Also known as VCD (Vacuum constriction device) it is used by many men post recovering from prostate cancer. It is basically a plastic tube with a pump on the end of it. This device attaches directly to the body, and the pump helps create a vacuum that can help you get an erection. Then, a constriction band is used to help maintain the erection.

The are many different brands of VCD’s or penis pumps on the market, and you should always follow the direction provided by your doctor and also study the information leaflet provided by the manufacturer of your specific model, to use it effectively, however let’s have a quick overview of how a penile pump can be used.
•    The first step is to place the pump over the penis. These pumps can be run by hand, or by batteries, depending on your model.
•    The second step is to pump the air from the tube, either by hand or by turning the device on. This draws the blood down the shaft of the penis, and gives you an erection.
•    The third step is to use some lubricant, and slide the constriction band off the pump, and to the base of you penis. Release, the vacuum, and remove the pump.
You can safely have intercourse with the constriction band in place, and you can leave it in place for up to 30 minutes

Today, medical doctors recommend the use of a penis pump to treat erectile dysfunction ED, for a few reasons:
1.    Efficiency. When used regularly and correctly, men who suffer from erectile dysfunction can achieve erection.
2.    Less risks. Unlike medications and surgeries, the use of an ED pump poses fewer risks.
3.    Cost efficiency. Medications including the ones that are inserted through the penis tip and the penile injections are not only expensive, but also painful. And even after spending a fortune and enduring terrible pain, there is a lesser guarantee of positive results. However, with an erectile dysfunction pump, there are no succeeding expenses (like maintenance) while on treatment, except maybe if the penis pump itself is destroyed, which is also unlikely.
4.    Non-invasiveness. An erectile dysfunction vacuum pump does not use or require surgery, penile injections, and insertion of a medication on a penis tip.
5.    May counter other sexual effects as a result of a medical or health condition. The ED pump is also effective for men who have had a prostate surgery and or radiation therapy as treatment for prostate cancer. With regular and proper use, men can gain back their erection.


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Erectile Dysfunction and Alprostadil Treatment

Alprostadil is a prostaglandin and it is a reliable option for erectile dysfunction treatment. Prostaglandins are organic chemical substances naturally synthesized within the body and are involved in numerous bodily functions, including the promotion of uterine contractions. Alprostadil is applied either as self-injection or as a tiny intra urethral suppository and it can produce erection in a similar way to selective enzyme inhibitors.

This medicine is an effective treatment for some men. It can be administered by:
•    Injection into the erectile tissue of the penis (such as Caverject or Edex)
•    A system that administers the drug in pellets placed in the urethra (MUSE system)

Alprostadil is not an appropriate choice for men with:
•    Severe circulatory or nerve damage
•    Bleeding abnormalities or men who are taking medications that thin the blood, such as heparin or warfarin
•    Penile implants

Injected Alprostadil
Injected alprostadil (Caverject, Edex) uses a very small needle that the man injects into the erectile tissue of his penis. About 80% of men describe the pain of administering the injection as very mild.
The drug should not be injected more than 3 times a week or more than once within a 24-hour period.

MUSE System
The MUSE system delivers alprostadil through the urethra. It works in the following way:
•    The device is a thin plastic tube with a button at the top.
•    The man inserts the tube into his urethral opening right after urination. (Urinating or urine leakage right after administration may reduce the amount of medication.)
•    He presses the button, which releases a pellet containing alprostadil.
•    The man rolls his penis between his hands for 10 - 30 seconds to evenly distribute the drug. To avoid discomfort, the man should keep the penis as straight as possible during administration.
•    The man should be upright, (sitting, standing or walking), for about 10 minutes after administration. By that time, he should have achieved an erection that lasts 30 - 60 minutes. (If a man lies on his back too soon after administration, blood flow to the penis may decrease and the erection may be lost.)
•    The erection may continue after orgasm.
The MUSE system should not be used more than twice a day and is not appropriate for men with abnormal penis anatomy.

Side Effects of Most Alprostadil Methods
Certain side effects are common to all methods of administration, although they may differ in severity depending on how the drug is given:
•    Pain and burning at the application site.
•    Scarring of the penis (Peyronie's disease), which is most likely to occur with injections.
•    Sudden, low blood pressure. Symptoms include dizziness, light headedness, and fainting. If these symptoms occur, the man should lie down immediately with his legs raised.
•    Priapism (prolonged erection). Possible with any method, but less chance with the MUSE system than with injections. If priapism occurs, applying ice for 10-minute periods to the inner thigh may help reduce blood flow. Erections that last 4 hours or longer require emergency care.
•    Women partners may experience vaginal burning or itching. The drug may have toxic effects if it reaches the fetus in pregnant women, so men should not use alprostadil for intercourse with pregnant women without the use of a condom or other barrier contraceptive device.
•    Other side effects include minor bleeding or spotting, redness in the penis, and aching in the testicles, legs, and area around the anus.


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Erectile Dysfunction and Testosterone Replacement Therapy

Testosterone replacement therapy works best for men with ED who have been diagnosed with hypogonadism (low testosterone levels). Men who have ED and normal testosterone levels are not likely to benefit from testosterone therapy. Studies indicate that testosterone therapy can modestly improve erectile function and libido.

Forms of testosterone therapy include:
•    Muscle injections using testosterone enanthate (such as Andryl or Delatestryl) or cypionate (Andro-Cyp, Depo-Testosterone, or Virion).
•    Skin patch (Testoderm, Testoderm TTS, Androderm). Depending on the brand, patches may be applied daily to the skin of the scrotum or to the abdomen, back, thighs, or upper arm.
•    Skin gel (such as Androgel or Testim). The gel is applied only to the shoulders, upper arms, or abdomen, not directly to the penis. It is extremely important that men thoroughly wash their hands with soap and water after applying the gel, and cover the application site with clothing once it dries. Testosterone gel has caused serious side effects (premature development, genital enlargement) in children who have come in contact with it through secondary exposure. Pregnant women must avoid contact with the gel because the testosterone can harm the fetus.
•    Oral forms of testosterone are not recommended because of the risk for liver damage when taken for long periods of time.

Side effects may include acne, breast enlargement, headache, and emotional instability. Testosterone therapy may increase the risk for the following serious side effects:
•    Rapid growth of prostate tumors in men with existing prostate cancers. (Taking testosterone does not appear to increase the risk for prostate cancer, but doctors remain concerned.)
•    Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), enlargement of the prostate gland
•    Liver disease and possibly liver cancer
•    Worsening of sleep apnea, especially in men who are obese or who have lung conditions

An alternative to testosterone is clomophine citrate, which is especially useful in younger men with testosterone deficiency with FSH and LH blood tests in the low or normal range. Use of clomiphene can raise testosterone blood test values and avoid potential testicular atrophy and infertility. Another strategy to raise testosterone, especially in men with high estradiol, is to give an aromatase inhibitor.
•    While long-term testosterone therapy was less common in the past, a large number of aging men now include testosterone therapy as part of their daily regimen.
•    Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is synthesized at a much greater amount than testosterone. DHEA has many actions in a man’s body, especially including acting on vascular smooth muscle DHEA receptors inducing smooth muscle relaxation. Low DHEA values herald vascular disease in aging men. A typical dose to replace DHEA is 25 - 50 mg/day. 


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Erectile Dysfunction and Psychotherapy

It's tempting to head for the doctor and ask for a Viagra prescription when you're experiencing erectile dysfunction, but the popular little blue pill and other erectile dysfunction medications only address the physical causes. What are your options if your inability to have or maintain an erection is due to a psychological problem?

How Psychotherapy Helps Erectile Dysfunction
A therapist can help address psychological factors and even physical issues like premature ejaculation, says Sally Connolly, LCSW, LMFT, a therapist who offers individual and couples counseling through Couples Counseling of Louisville in Kentucky.
"For difficulty with getting an erection, it is important to have a thorough medical exam; however, erectile dysfunction is often due to performance anxiety," says Connolly. "The more that you worry about having an erection (just like the harder you try to fall asleep), the more likely it is that you’ll have difficulty. Therapy can help men let go of their worry about the erection and learn to relax and enjoy the sexual and sensual experience."

Psychotherapy and Your Relationship
Psychotherapy, often called talk therapy, is one important way to build a stronger, more communicative relationship.
The more comfortable you feel with your partner and with intimacy, the less you’ll experience stress and pressure in the bedroom — and erectile dysfunction.
"Opening up conversations and changing patterns in a couple’s relationship often increase healthy sexuality. Improving their sex life often increases a couple’s connection and friendship, thereby helping them to solve other problems," says Connolly.

Should You Give Psychotherapy a Try?
If your doctor doesn’t find a physical reason for your impotence, common psychological factors may be the cause. These include:
•    Anxiety or nervousness about sex
•    Stress at home or at work
•    Relationship problems
•    Problems communicating with your partner
•    Feelings of self-consciousness during sexual intercourse
•    High expectations of yourself or from your partner about your sexual performance
•    Depression
•    General anxiety
•    Lack of interest in sex
•    Problems with self-esteem

How Psychotherapy Works in Treating Erectile Dysfunction
Psychotherapy can be beneficial for an individual, but couples therapy sessions are also helpful. It's often good for a couple to attend an initial session together to address issues and concerns. Individual sessions can then address issues with each partner, leading up to the couple working together. This can help under the outward problems and uncover what needs to be dealt with and talked about in order to enjoy physical and emotional intimacy.

Psychotherapy sessions can help you learn to deal with anxiety, both in and out of the bedroom. Sometimes, therapy sessions are "as simple as helping couples understand what happens in typical couples’ sex lives. Couples therapy can also include learning to talk about sex in ways that help them let down their defenses and openly discuss their needs, wants, and desires".

You can expect to talk about your sexual needs and expectations during these sessions, as well as what prevents them from being met. Some sessions may involve prioritizing different aspects of work, home life, and the relationship and sexual intercourse.

Finding the Right Therapist
If your doctor suggests that psychological issues may play a role in your erectile dysfunction, he may be able to recommend a good therapist. If therapy would be helpful, that physician may know a therapist who specializes in sex therapy and/or couples work.


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Erectile Dysfunction and Relationship

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects both the man and the woman. It even has caused failure of 1 and 5 marriages. This is a serious issue that needs to be addressed, since it causes probably the most conflicts in relationships.

Lists of the most common (and serious) effects of ED are as follows:
•    A man who fears failure after realizing he may be struggling with erectile dysfunction might withdraw both physically and emotionally. He usually also feels great shame and embarrassment.
•    The woman in the relationship usually feels rejected. She thinks he is not attracted to her or perhaps worse yet she may think he does not love her any more. Therefore, she as well as the man may feel inadequate as a person and insecure.
•    When a man feels insecure about his ability to perform, he may sometimes also lash out at the woman. He may not blame her directly, but he may start perhaps over-criticizing her in other areas of her life. For instance, he may start minimizing her efforts around the house such as cooking or cleaning.
•    The female in the relationship may think a man is cheating on her if he cannot get it up. This then causes feelings of unnecessary mistrust because in some cases it may not even be reality.
•    Both the man and women eventually end up alienating themselves from one another. This all happens out of fear of abandonment. This fear of abandonment is then reinforced by the man’s detachment.


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Erectile Dysfunction and Alcohol

Health experts around the world agree that small amounts of alcohol, in particular red wine, can be good for you. Alcohol consumed in moderate amounts can release sexual inhibitions, intensify libido and temporarily enhance feelings of well being and self-esteem. But over-consumption gradually depresses those fleeting moments of euphoria and eventually leads to alcohol impotence. While alcohol may provoke desire, even moderate amounts spoil the capacity to perform
Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence as it is sometimes called, is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse, and includes the inability to get an erection as a result of sexual stimulation or to lose your erection prior to ejaculation.

Most men will be familiar with the term "brewer's droop" - a temporary form of alcohol impotence that occurs when the average drinker consumes "one too many." However case studies have shown that long-term alcohol abuse can result in irreversible sexual impotence even while a person is sober. Apart from the damage caused to the nervous system by alcoholism, it's believed that the associated decline in physical and psychological health can contribute to this. Up to 80 percent of men who drink heavily are believed to have serious sexual side effects, including erectile dysfunction, sterility, or loss of sexual desire.

Alcohol affects the nervous system and impairs the impulses between the brain's pituitary gland and the genitals. The nervous system is responsible for triggering the signals that dilate and relax the blood vessels in the penis, resulting in an erection. Clinical studies have shown that prolonged alcohol abuse causes irreversible damage to the nerves in the penis, which results in alcohol impotence. While a few drinks might temporarily dull inhibitions and anxiety about sexual activity, larger doses (BACs > .06) will lead to loss of sensation, inability to reach orgasm, and temporary impotence. At blood levels between .05 and .10, alcohol retards sexual arousal, at levels above .10, orgasm is inhibited, and levels above .15 can cause temporary impotence.

Alcohol also disrupts hormone levels, in particular, testosterone and oestrogen. Low levels of testosterone diminish sexual drive and function. Heavy drinking over a long period of time can irreversibly destroy testicular cells, leaving men with shrunken testicles. Alcohol may also interfere with normal sperm structure and movement by inhibiting the metabolism of Vitamin A, which is essential for sperm development.

Excessive drinking also results in behavioral changes that reduce sexual desire and inhibit sexual performance. Concentration and judgment become cloudy and physical activity and movement are impaired. Abuse of alcohol is often associated with other negative factors like smoking, over eating, lack of exercise and drug abuse.

In addition to the physical toxic effects of excess alcohol on the body's tissues, many alcoholics also have significant psychological problems. Depression, stress and anxiety are often cited as reasons for excessive drinking. But these same psychological factors are also leading causes of ED. So it should come as no surprise that heavy drinkers are more susceptible to alcohol induced erectile dysfunction.
Regardless of whether alcohol abuse is caused by physical or psychological factors, the bottom line is that at best excess alcohol leads to chronic sexual under-performance and at worst chronic alcohol impotence.

The most important factor in seeking treatment for alcohol abuse is to acknowledge that a problem exists and that help is available. Many of the adverse physical and psychological effects caused by alcoholism can be reversed or overcome if the problem is treated early enough.


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Erectile Dysfunction and Smoking

Men who smoke cigarettes run an increased risk of experiencing erectile dysfunction, and the more cigarettes smoked, the greater the risk, according to a study by Tulane University researchers published in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

A team of researchers led by Jiang He, Professor of Epidemiology at the Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, examined the association between cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction in a 2000-2001 study in China involving 7,684 men. The researchers used questionnaires to assess the status of cigarette smoking and erectile dysfunction. Those surveyed were men between the ages of 35-74 who did not have vascular disease.

The team found that there was a significant statistical link between the number of cigarettes that men smoked and the likelihood they would experience erectile dysfunction. The association between smoking and erectile dysfunction was even stronger in participants with diabetes. An estimated 22.7 percent of erectile dysfunction cases among Chinese men might be attributable to cigarette smoking, says the study.

Although erectile dysfunction is not a life-threatening condition, it compromises well-being and quality of life. The Tulane study results suggest that smoking prevention should be an important approach for reducing the risk of erectile dysfunction.



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Erectile Dysfunction and Cancer

Erectile dysfunction (ED) occurs as a consequence of many cancer treatments, and can impact heavily on a patient's quality of life. The psychological effects of ED may result in loss of self-esteem, disturbed romantic relationships, and emotional distress.

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a significant problem for cancer patients—both cancer survivors and those being actively treated for cancer. Exact statistics for ED in cancer patients as a group are difficult to measure due to the effect of different diseases and treatments on ED and its multifactorial nature. ED has been studied most frequently in prostate cancer patients, but it can come about as a consequence of many cancer diagnoses and treatments.

In addition to those with prostate cancer, patients with colorectal, bladder, rectal, penile, testicular, colon, and hematologic malignancies, among others, may experience ED. It is estimated that 60-90% of men experience erectile dysfunction following prostatectomy and 67-85% following radiotherapy for prostate cancer, and that 30-51% of men treated for localized prostate cancer use an erectile aid within five years of receiving cancer therapy. Despite a large amount of research and many recent advances in surgery for prostate cancer, such as nerve-sparing techniques, laparoscopic procedures, and robotic-assisted procedures, a significant number of men continue to experience ED after prostatectomy.

No matter what the cancer diagnosis, factors such as surgeries, radiation treatments, chemotherapy treatments, hormone therapy, changes in testosterone levels, changes in physical functionality, and depression/anxiety all play a role in sexuality, and thus contribute to the problem of ED. Erectile function is key to a man's sense of identity and his relationship with his significant other, and has a significant impact on quality of life for cancer patients due to its impact on many psychosocial areas, including affect, loneliness, psychological adjustment, marital happiness, and depression, among other things.

Pathophysiology of Erectile Dysfunction in Cancer Patients
Penile erection occurs as a result of a complex intracellular cascade of reactions. The nervous system may be triggered as a response to stimulation of the senses, as a reflex to direct genital stimulation, or during REM sleep as a nocturnal erection. Any of these types of stimulation will initiate a very complicated cascade of reactions. Nitric oxide, guanylate cyclase, guanosine triphosphate (GTP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP), intracellular calcium, and phosphodiesterase-5 all play a role in the cascade.. As a result of these chemical reactions, penile cavernosal smooth muscle is relaxed, sinusoidal blood flow to the penis is increased, and venous outflow from the penis is occluded, resulting in a penile erection. Interference with any part of this intricate system will result in ED.

Surgeries to the pelvis done to remove tumors or organs may alter both vascular supply to and enervation of sexual organs, thereby contributing to ED. ED after radical prostatectomy is thought to be due to injury to the nerve plexus that provides the autonomic enervation to the corpora cavernosa of the penis. Additionally, hormonal balances may change with the removal or alteration of organs. Surgery for colorectal cancer can damage the pelvic nerve, and also may result in the use of an ostomy appliance, thus affecting ED in both a physiological and psychological manner. Radical cystectomy for bladder cancer results in urinary diversion, which may affect ED due to mechanical reasons as well as affecting body image, self-confidence, as well as sexual desire. After surgical resection, men with penile cancer are also faced with body image issues, as well as problems with physical functioning, although their pelvic nerves may still be intact.

Many patients are treated with pelvic radiation for various types of cancer, and this can also be a significant contributor to ED. Prostate cancer patients can receive photon external-beam radiation, brachytherapy, transperineal implantation of radioactive ioidine-125 seeds, proton beam radiation, or conformal external beam radiation. Other types of cancer are treated with pelvic or abdominal radiation as well, depending on type of cancer and size and spread of the malignancy. The exact mechanism by which radiation therapy (RT) leads to ED is unknown. It is known, however that RT usually does not damage the nerves of the pelvis; it creates scar tissue within the pelvis and hardens and constricts vasculature, which can lead to ED. DNA damage caused by RT is also thought to play a role. The effects of ED caused by radiation treatment may not become apparent until months or years after treatment has finished.

Chemotherapy treatments can affect erectile function in cancer patients for several reasons. Its effects on fast-growing gonadal tissue may alter hormone levels in the body, and fatigue, nausea, and altered body image all may contribute to altered sexual functioning if not directly to ED.

Hormone therapies for prostate cancer are designed to work against androgens in order to prevent further cancer growth in the prostate, but because androgens play a large role in sexual desire and performance, patients receiving hormone therapies often have difficulties with ED. Additionally, androgen deprivation may cause depression, mood swings, anxiety, hot flashes, loss of libido, and body composition changes such as gynecomastia, which affect body image.


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Sunday, 25 November 2012

Erectile Dysfunction and Depression


Is there a link between depression and erectile dysfunction? The research says yes: Studies show that 35 to 47 percent of people with depression have problems with their sex life, 61 percent of people with severe depression have sexual problems, and up to 40 percent of people taking common antidepressant medications report a decline in sexual satisfaction. One study even found that 82 percent of men with erectile dysfunction also reported symptoms of depression.

The sexual urge that causes you to have an erection starts in your brain. When there aren’t enough brain chemicals to stimulate the blood flow needed for an erection, erectile dysfunction results. Depression causes these brain chemicals to get out of balance, and that can mean you have less desire for sex — and you can’t perform well.

Warning Signs of Depression and Erectile Dysfunction
How do you know if depression is part of the erectile dysfunction problem? Watch out for these warning signs:
•    You have lost the desire for sex, and sex no longer feels pleasurable.
•    Your doctor has prescribed an antidepressant and it is affecting your sex life.
•    You start to experience erectile dysfunction after a stressful life event, such as the loss of a job or a loved one or another family trauma.
•    You have erectile dysfunction along with strong feelings of anxiety, frustration, and stress.
•    Erectile dysfunction is associated with feeling negative about yourself.

How to Get Help for Depression and Erectile Dysfunction
The first step in getting help for erectile dysfunction and depression is overcoming the urge not to talk about it or assuming that it is simply a normal part of stress or aging. In many cases there are medical causes of depression and erectile dysfunction, and in most cases both issues can be treated successfully. Here are some steps you can take:
•    Have a complete medical evaluation and tell your doctor about your problems with your sex life.
•    If you are on an antidepressant, your doctor may switch your medication or lower your dose.
•    Your doctor may start you on medications to treat erectile dysfunction and/or depression.
•    Your doctor may recommend counselling with a mental health professional.

The Importance of Partner Support
To keep erectile dysfunction from affecting your relationship with your partner, open the lines of communication and talk honestly about the situation. Through mutual support and understanding, this “couple's problem” is best solved by approaching it as a team.
The other partner in a relationship can help in many ways, once he or she is comfortable talking about it. Here are points to keep in mind:
•    It’s a good idea to go along with your partner on doctor visits.
•    Avoid being judgmental and adopt a positive approach.
•    Consider seeing a mental health professional together.
•    Learn as much as you can about erectile dysfunction.
•    Watch out for drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking, negative habits that are more common with depression and that can add to erectile dysfunction.

Erectile dysfunction can damage your sex life and your self-esteem. Whether depression or erectile dysfunction comes first, they often occur together. The good news is that they can both be treated. Start by being honest about your sex life and your feelings with your partner and your doctor. Know the warning signs and ask for help.


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Erectile Dysfunction and Heart Disease

Erectile dysfunction is a strong predictor of death in men with cardiovascular disease, according to new research out this week. Heart disease can also cause atherosclerosis which is a condition where your arteries harden and this condition will then cause erectile dysfunction as it affects the blood flow to the penis. Medicines like statins and fibrates which are used to treat high cholesterol levels can lead to erectile dysfunction as they too can affect erection.

German researchers said in the Journal of the American Heart Association that men with cardiovascular disease, also known as heart disease, and ED were twice as likely to die from all causes than men who did not have erectile dysfunction. And those with ED were 1.6 times more likely to suffer from a serious cardiovascular problem such as a heart attack or stroke.

The study focused on 1,519 men from 13 countries who had heart disease. The men were asked in a questionnaire whether they suffered from ED and at what degree they were impotent (mild, mild-to-moderate, moderate or severe). They were given follow-up questionnaires after two years and at their final visits five years later.
During the five years, some men were given specific drugs for heart disease, such as ACE inhibitors including ramipril, telmisartan or a combination. These drugs relax blood vessels and decrease the heart's workload. Others were given placebos.
After the five years, researchers found that patients with ED tended to be older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension, stroke, diabetes and lower urinary tract surgery than those without ED. And deaths from all causes occurred in 11.3 percent of the patients who reported ED but in only 5.6 percent of those with no or mild ED at the start of the study.

Among patients with heart problems, those with erectile dysfunction, or ED, are far more likely to suffer heart attacks or die from heart problems in the near future, a new study suggests.
The research, released Monday, took a look at more than 1,500 men who received treatment for heart disease over a roughly four-year period.
The findings did not bode well for those who experienced erectile problems along with their heart issues. The researchers found that treatment for heart disease did little to help erectile dysfunction in men with this problem. But more troubling was the finding that men who experienced both erectile dysfunction and heart problems were twice as likely to die over the course of the study than those who had heart problems alone. The men with erectile dysfunction also faced a doubled risk of heart attack.
"I think we need to bear in mind that if somebody has erectile dysfunction, we really need to treat them," said Dr. Koon Teo, a professor in the department of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, and one of the researchers on the study.

Treat the Heart Disease, Help the Erectile Dysfunction
Getting exercise, achieving a healthy weight, avoiding smoking — those steps are a standard prescription for people who want to lower their risk of cardiovascular disease.

But according to a new review of previously published studies, they’re also a good way to improve erectile dysfunction. According to their review, those lifestyle interventions (on their own and combined with statin drugs) were associated with a statistically significant improvement in sexual function, write the authors of the new analysis, published online in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

“If you help the blood flow in one area, you can help it in another,” Stephen Kopecky, an author of the study and a preventive cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic.

Kopecky tells the Health Blog that not all men who experience erectile dysfunction have coronary artery disease — a narrowing of the blood vessels leading to the heart. But ED is a risk factor for CAD, and tends to show up three to five years ahead of heart problems.

That can make it an important warning sign, particularly for younger men. A 60-year-old man with ED has only a slightly higher chance of having cardiovascular disease, he says. But a 40-year-old man with ED is 50 times more likely to have CAD than a contemporary without ED, he says.

Kopecky says ED is also a unique warning sign in another way. It’s no secret that men tend to be reluctant to go to the doctor or to disclose symptoms of potentially dangerous conditions. But while men may not tell their spouses or partners about chest pain that hits while going up the stairs, ED is different. “You can’t hide from it,” he says.

That may prompt a partner to suggest a visit to the doctor, he says.

Of course plenty of men treat their ED problems with drugs such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. But like statins, ED drugs work better when they’re combined with lifestyle measures, Kopecky says. Men who have had to ramp up their ED drug dosage over the years might respond better to lower dosages if they lose weight, eat more healthfully, get exercise and stop smoking, he says.


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Erectile Dysfunction and High Blood Pressure


High blood pressure is an important cause of erectile dysfunction and impotence.
A number of studies have shown that erectile dysfunction is both more common and more serious in men with hypertension. For example, while about 30% of men will experience one episode of erectile dysfunction in a given month, that number jumps to almost 70% in men with hypertension. About 45% of men with hypertension have severe erectiledysfunction (more than three episodes in a month), while only about 5% of men with normal blood pressure fit into this category.

These statistics are more interesting when considered from the opposite angle. For example, it’s one thing to say that 40% of men with high blood pressure suffer from erectile dysfunction, but more revealing to note that almost 80% of men who complain of erectile dysfunction are later found to have high blood pressure. The relationship between high blood pressure and erectile dysfunction is so strong that some physicians and researchers have argued in favor of using sexual activity questions as a screening test for high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems.

How High Blood Pressure Causes ErectileDysfunction
Nobody knows exactly how high blood pressure causes erectile dysfunction and impotence. One leading theory is that the excess pressure in the blood vessels actually causes damage to small arteries in the penis. Normally, these arteries dilate in response to sexual stimulation, allowing more blood to flow into the spongy tissue of the penis to produce an erection. It is thought that excessive pressure on these arteries may cause tiny tears, which the body then repairs. In response to these tears, the healed arteries become thicker, allowing them to better resist further damage. These thicker arteries, though, aren’t able to respond as fast, or as completely, to demands for extra blood, so they become a sort of dam in the flow of blood to the erectile tissues of the penis.

One problem with this theory is that some studies seem to show that how long a patient has had high blood pressure is not as important for predicting the risk of erectile dysfunction as is the actual severity of the high blood pressure. In other words, someone who has had moderate hypertension for twenty years sometimes appears to be at lower risk for erectile dysfunction than a young man who has had very serious hypertension for only a few months. In light of this, other theories of how high blood pressure contributes to erectile dysfunction have been proposed.

To complicate matters further, it is well established that many popular drugs used to treat high blood pressure can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. Some of the drugs known to have this side effect are:
  • Clonidine
  • Spironolactone
  • Thiazides
Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence Caused by High Blood Pressure
Typically, the first step in treating erectile dysfunction and impotence is identifying the ultimate cause of the problem. In patients with high blood pressure, the high blood pressure itself is usually the cause. The primary focus of treatment is to reduce the blood pressure to acceptable levels, if it is not already within the target treatment range.
Popular drugs like Viagra (sildenafil) and Cialis (tadalafil) - known as phosphodiesterase inhibitors - are a popular and effective choice for patients who have good blood pressure control. Your doctor may need to avoid giving you these drugs if you are currently taking nitrates (Imdur, Monoket, Isordil, Dilatrate), which are commonly prescribed for angina. More severe, or treatment-resistant cases, are dealt with on a patient-by-patient basis. Treatment in these situations may include options such as surgery, penile injections, or alternate drug therapy. 

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Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes

Diabetes doubles or even triples the chance that you’ll have erectile dysfunction (ED) and that you could develop it a decade earlier than other men. In fact, the two conditions are so closely linked that some experts believe that for men younger than 45, impotence, or ED, could be an early warning sign of diabetes. The good news is that diabetes treatment, especially if you identify type 2 diabetes early, can also ease ED.

Connecting Erectile Dysfunction and Type 2 Diabetes
At first glance, it’s not obvious why higher than normal levels of blood sugar would cause erectile dysfunction. However, the relationship is undeniable: Somewhere between 20 and 75 percent of men with diabetes also have erectile dysfunction.
The problem is that uncontrolled high blood sugar damages the blood vessels, big and small, throughout your body. The blood vessels in the penis are already very tiny, so when uncontrolled diabetes starts to undermine your blood vessels, your penis may experience the consequences early on.
And diabetes affects more than the blood system. “Diabetes also results in nerve dysfunction and, in the penile shaft, [eventually] the muscle starts to atrophy and is replaced by scar tissue or collagen rather than smooth muscle. That scenario — damage to all the tissues that support your penis — is what could happen if you do not get and keep your diabetes under control.

Are You at Risk for Impotence?
Knowing your risk factors will help you make the best health decisions. Men who are most at risk for erectiledysfunction related to type 2 diabetes:
  • Have high blood sugar (glucose)
  • Know they have diabetes, but are not meeting the goals for their A1C, or average glucose results
  • Have high cholesterol
  • Have high blood pressure
  • Have low testosterone
  • Are overweight or obese
  • Are 40 or older
  • Smoke cigarettes
  • Do not exercise
Breaking the Erectile Dysfunction-Type 2 Diabetes Link
Having diabetes doesn’t mean you have to live with erectile dysfunction. The right diabetes treatment can help. Follow these guidelines:
  • Get your diabetes under control. A1C, which is a blood test that lets you know how well your blood sugar has been controlled for the past few months. Lifestyle changes can help and so can medications.
  • Maintain a healthy lifestyle. Eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet and getting enough exercise will help both your diabetes and your erectile dysfunction.
  • If you smoke, quit.
  • Maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight or obese, losing even a small percent of your body weight will help control diabetes. Obese men might also benefit from gastric bypass surgery, which has been shown to relieve both erectile dysfunction and diabetes in some patients.
  • Seek treatment for erectile dysfunction. There are many ways to treat erectile dysfunction, including pills, injections, vacuum pumps, and surgery. Talk to your urologist about what you can do for erectile dysfunction even while you are working to control your diabetes.
  • Get heart disease risk factors under control. Work with your doctor to lower blood pressure and high cholesterol, both of which can contribute to erectile dysfunction.
The connection between impotence and diabetes is undeniable, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept this outcome. Taking steps to control your diabetes and reduce erectile dysfunction will improve your quality of life.

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