Erection is weakened?

Summary [erection is weakened]

Most men will experience erectile dysfunction during their lifetime. Erectile dysfunction, also called erectile dysfunction, means the inability to achieve or maintain erection of the penis long enough to be able to have sexual intercourse.

Some men can't get an erection at all, while others can get an erection, but it doesn't last long enough, or the penis isn't stiff enough to have satisfying sex. For some, the problem may come and go.

Need for health care

Men who have problems with erection often do not ask for help, but there are at least two good reasons to see a doctor.

First, there is treatment that can probably help you.

Secondly, erectile problems can be a harbinger of serious health problems, such as vascular disease (arteriosclerosis).

Therefore, contact a doctor if you have problems with erection.

Risk factors and prevention

Common causes of erectile dysfunction in young people are nervousness and performance anxiety. With age, the hormone production of testosterone decreases, and at a certain point this can start to affect the erection.

Erectile problems can also have a physical cause, such as an injury, an illness or hormonal disorders. Diabetes is an example of a disease that can cause erectile problems. Other examples could be diseases that affect the nervous system such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, stroke or multiple sclerosis (MS).

Other conditions that can cause erectile problems are long-term excessive alcohol intake and smoking. Depression, stress or lack of desire can also play a role. Some medicines can cause erectile difficulties as a side effect. Surgery information!

[erection is weakened] Treatment

Most people can get their erection back with treatment. If the erection problem is caused by another health problem, it is important to find the cause so that you get the right treatment.

If the problem is poor blood flow to the penis, lifestyle changes can be important to prevent cardiovascular disease. Examples of lifestyle changes could be a better diet, weight loss or more exercise.

Medicines [erection is weakened]

The drugs sildenafil, tadalafil, avanafil and vardenafil have shown good efficacy in erectile dysfunction. They help to open the blood vessels in the penis so that blood can flow in more easily. About a quarter of men with erectile dysfunction use one of these drugs.

The tablets should be taken between 1/2 and 1 hour before you have sex.

The drugs help approximately seven out of ten men to get a stiffer penis and longer lasting erections. One of the advantages of these drugs is that they can help regardless of the cause of the erectile problems. They're likely to help whether you're aging, have heart problems, prostate cancer, diabetes or spinal cord injury.

Some people experience side effects, but they are usually mild. You may get a headache, heartburn or flushing. The side effects are rarely so bad that one stops taking these drugs.

The medicines can be dangerous to take for some people. Some of the reasons may be:

use of medicines containing nitrates or nitroglycerin (angina medicine)

if you have a serious heart disease or have had a heart attack in the last three months

if you have other heart conditions, including unstable angina

if you have either very high or very low blood pressure

if you have had a stroke in the last three months

if you have previously had priapism. The condition is characterized by painful erections that last for several hours.

In Norway, you need a prescription to get PDE5 inhibitors, except sildenafil.

Injections [erection is weakened]

If you cannot use the drugs mentioned above, injection treatment in the penis can be an alternative. The doctor will explain exactly how to inject yourself. The treatment is not suitable for everyone.

Injection treatment can cause side effects such as pain in the penis, and the injection itself can also be painful. A few men may experience scar tissue around the insertion site.

Call [erection is weakened] processing

Erection problems do not always have to have a physical cause, but can be due to psychological stress such as stress, anxiety and worry. Many people can then benefit from advice in the form of talk therapy or advice from a sexologist. It is easy to get into a negative spiral where erection problems and worries about this mutually affect each other negatively.

It can be difficult to get an appointment with a psychologist with reimbursement or to find a sexologist in the public health system. The Norwegian Association for Clinical Sexology approves specialists in clinical sexology. They offer counseling for all kinds of sexual problems and relationships.

Other [erection is weakened] treatments

If you cannot use PDE5 inhibitors or injections, or if the treatments have not produced the desired effect, you can try small special pills in the urethra. You insert the pills into the penis with an insertion sleeve. For some, this may be a preferred alternative to injections.

Some also try vacuum pumps for potency problems. Vacuum pump is a plastic tube that is connected to a pump. You place the penis inside the tube and press it against the crotch, then pump until a negative pressure occurs. This sucks blood into the penis, giving you an erection. You need to put an elastic ring around the root of the penis to maintain the erection during sex. You should not wear the penis ring for more than half an hour. The vacuum pump can cause side effects, such as bruising.

Testosterone supplements will be relevant for those who have demonstrated a lack of testosterone. Testosterone is taken daily as a gel or you can receive injection treatment at longer intervals.

If all other treatments have failed, or if you have had certain types of groin injuries, surgery may be a possible solution. You will then be referred to a specialist in urology. Surgery always entails a risk, and the surgeon will therefore inform you of possible complications, such as infection and the possibility that you will have to undergo another operation. The availability of such operations in Norway has varied.

[erection is weakened] Forecast

​Most people with erectile problems experience a good effect from the treatment. It is also worth remembering that there are many ways to have and enjoy sex. If you have a partner, it is important to be open about the problems so that you can solve them together. Surgery information: Erection is weakened?