Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a hormonal imbalance, a blood flow issue, a neurological problem, and even result from psychological stressors. These four primary causes are not mutually exclusive and ED is often the sum of one or more of these issues.

Men can present with a number of symptoms with regard to erectile dysfunction. Men will sometimes report that their erections do not last as long or that their erections are not firm as they were previously. Men with ED may also report that it takes longer for them to achieve a full erection or reach orgasm.

ED is common as men age and is caused by many factors that can negatively affect your overall health. As a general rule, we say that what’s good for your heart is good for your penis. That means eating healthy, sleeping well, and exercising regularly are all important factors in maintaining your erectile function.

The prognosis for erectile dysfunction is excellent if the kind of ED can be determined. Not all erections or erectile dysfunction is created equal. Treatments therefore should be tailored to your specific diagnosis. My promise to every man with ED is that one way or another we can get you a reliably hard erection.

Many men seek help for ED first with their primary physicians. However, primary docs are not trained to diagnose the underlying cause of your issue. For that you need a specialist. You can seek the guidance of a urologist, but your best bet is to find a doctor who specializes specifically in male sexual health.

Most new patients with ED require blood tests to evaluate their hormones, which are typically done on the first visit. Depending on a patient’s individual history and the severity of their condition, we may recommend an ultrasound evaluation of their erection to assess penile blood flow. Any additional testing would be based on the outcomes of these initial tests.

In more than 80% of cases, there is some underlying physical issue that is contributing to ED. That means in most cases it’s not all in your head. It’s worth a formal medical evaluation to figure out what’s really causing your erection difficulties.

There are several medical therapies available for erectile dysfunction. The most commonly used and well-known are the oral medications known as PDE5 inhibitors. These include Viagra, Cialis, Levitra, and others. These are taken at the time of sex to induce an erection. When men stop responding to pills or become frustrated because they are no longer reliable, they can use injections that are administered directly into the penis prior to sex.

For men who do no respond reliably to medications, surgery can be a great option. The gold standard surgical treatment for ED involves the placement of an inflatable penile prosthesis. This device replaces the no longer functioning erectile tissue and can easily be activated at the time of sex. These prosthetics are implanted through a single incision and are completely hidden within the body so that your penis will look the same as it always has.

The prognosis for prostatitis is excellent if the underlying cause is identified. If the cause is a bacterial infection, several weeks of antibiotics may be needed to eradicate the infection. However, most cases of prostatitis are non-bacterial and require a combination of medical and physical therapy.

The patients who are most successful at preventing recurrent prostatitis are those that are compliant with prescribed medications and most importantly pelvic floor physical therapy.