Erectile Dysfunction

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is defined as the repeated inability of a man to get or maintain an erection.
Although all men experience occasional problems maintaining an erection, erectile dysfunction can only be diagnosed when it occurs at least 25 percent of the time.
Erectile dysfunction affects about 152 million men worldwide and can affect fertility since, without erection or ejaculation, the sperm cannot enter into the woman’s uterus.
When erectile dysfunction is a consequence of diabetes mellitus, this also contributes to a decrease in the ejaculate’s sperm concentration, mobility and morphology.

Causes of erectile dysfunction

Some of the major causes of erectile dysfunction are

Diabetes
Hypertension
Arteriosclerosis
Multiple sclerosis
High cholesterol level
Parkinson disease
Cardiovascular or neurological diseases
Kidney or liver diseases
Cancer treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy
Prostate or bladder surgeries
Prostatic hyperplasia (enlarged prostate)
Penis. spinal cord. prostate. bladder or pelvis injuries
Hormonal imbalances
Some blood pressure medications and antihistamines tranquilizers. antidepressants and appetite suppressants
Smoking
Excessive alcohol intake or other drugs such as cocaine or marijuana
Emotional problems such as stress anxiety or depression

How are the causes of erectile dysfunction diagnosed?

The more information you can provide your fertility specialist about your medical history, it will be better to identify the causes of erectile dysfunction.
Similarly, you will be asked to answer a questionnaire known as the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), which consists of five questions that allow establishing the severity of erectile dysfunction.
In addition to a physical examination for evidence of other diseases, your doctor may perform a blood test to determine your testosterone, luteinizing hormone, prolactin, thyroid hormones, glucose, or cholesterol levels.

Treatments to achieve pregnancy in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction

Knowing the causes of erectile dysfunction is critical when it comes to selecting a fertility treatment that restores a normal erectile function and helps to achieve pregnancy with minimal wear.

If erectile dysfunction is caused by medications, your doctor will ask you to suspend their use and help you find other options. On the other hand, if there is an underlying medical condition, treatment is usually sufficient to reverse erectile dysfunction.

If the treatment of the causes of erectile dysfunction is not enough, your doctor may prescribe specific medication. The use of oral medications is very effective as it increases blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction should always be accompanied by some healthy lifestyle changes, which can help prevent diseases that cause this condition.

Advance treatment to achieve pregnancy in case of erectile dysfunction

1 Artificial insemination where a previously capacitated couple or donor sperm sample is introduced into the woman’s uterus just at the time of ovulation. This method is only recommended in women under 35 and only when there is no other infertility causes detected.
2. In-Vitro Fertilization (IVF) which allows joining the patient’s eggs with an improved quality sperm sample in a special laboratory dish under controlled conditions to increase the likelihood of successful fertilization.