To know it a little more and to know what factors can favor it, coinciding this Saturday, the 26th, with the celebration of World Penis Day, in Europa Press Salud Infosalus we interviewed Doctor Eduardo García Cruz, who is a urologist at the Institute of Urology Serrate and Ribal (Barcelona) and at ROC Clínic (Madrid), and a reference in the study of this matter.
He tells us that erectile dysfunction is defined as «the inability to achieve an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse.» He emphasizes that, although age causes us to have fewer erections and increases the likelihood of dysfunction, «erectile dysfunction is not normal at any age.»
As indicated by the Spanish Urology Association, this phenomenon can develop in different degrees, from an erection that is ‘not as rigid’, to a total absence of erection.
MAIN CAUSES OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
Among the main causes of erectile dysfunction, this urologist points out that «in young men we mainly have problems of anxiety, confidence, as well as the use of pornography and anabolic steroids.» Meanwhile, he maintains that in men over 50, the main risk factors are smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
How to improve it on a daily basis? Doctor García Cruz is clear about this and maintains that «the easiest thing» is to start with rest, followed by a diet low in carbohydrates and processed fats. He also sees it as essential to not smoke, as well as engage in strength training. «If we can also limit the use of pornography as much as possible, and have good communication and intimacy with our partner, it is the most appropriate,» says this expert.
«Stress, anxiety, or the use of screens and devices influence male sexual health a lot. The activation of the sympathetic nervous system – fight or flight – caused by stress, family problems, relationship problems, or sexual problems, will cause our desire and erection to decrease, and also shorten the duration of sex,» asserts this specialist from ROC Clínic.
Furthermore, he maintains that we are only beginning to see the consequences of pornography use, both in young boys and older men. «And, at the risk of sounding very pessimistic, even worse things are coming,» warns this urologist.
WHEN THE PROBLEM APPEARS
In this context, the Spanish Urology Association reminds us that erectile dysfunction is usually a progressive process, in which we gradually notice that we cannot achieve the rigidity we used to in erections, or that they do not last long enough to achieve satisfactory sexual intercourse.
This scientific society states that diagnosis is based on the symptoms presented by the patient, as well as on analytical studies, especially hormonal ones, as well as monitoring of cholesterol, triglycerides, or glucose, among other parameters. «Doppler ultrasound can inform us of the arterial and venous flow of a patient in erection, although there are more studies to diagnose it,» he adds.
However, the Spanish Urology Association assures us that «the most important thing about treatment is that erectile dysfunction can be cured,» and therefore it usually starts with oral therapy in different doses and forms of administration.
Depending on the patient’s response, other therapeutic pathways can be implemented, such as gels, intracavernous therapy, among others. In this regard, Doctor García Cruz indicates that in addition to drugs for treatment and other known alternatives, healthcare technology is also being added.
In his opinion, the «most innovative and disruptive» thing in this field is the use of radiofrequency to prevent and treat erectile dysfunction associated with age: «There are already home radiofrequency devices. We can increasingly get to the root of the problem. In extreme cases, we can resort to surgery.»
However, this specialist in Urology emphasizes this point: «Erectile dysfunction has a solution, but there is no one ‘recipe’ for all patients: it is about understanding the man and his partner, finding the cause of the problem, and proposing a treatment focused on the individual; not just the penis.»
