Erectile Dysfunction

According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 5 percent of 40-year-old men and between 15 and 25 percent of 65-year-old men experience erectile dysfuncion on a long-term basis.

A much more common problem that affects the majority of men at some point in their life is the occasional failure to achieve an erection, which can occur for a variety of reasons, such as from drinking too much alcohol or from being extremely tired.
Failure to achieve an erection less than 20% of the time is not unusual and treatment is rarely needed. Failure to achieve an erection more than 50% of the time, however, generally indicates there is a problem requiring treatment.

In order to achieve an erection three conditions must occur: The nerves to the penis must be functioning properly; the blood circulation to the penis must be adequate; there must be a stimulus from the brain. If there is something interfering with any or all of these conditions, a full erection will be prevented.

Common causes of ED include diseases that affect blood flow, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries); nerve diseases, psychological factors, such as stress, depression, and performance anxiety; and injury to the penis. Chronic illness, certain medications and a condition called Peyronie's disease (scar tissue in the penis) can also cause ED.

Occasionally, prescription and non-prescription medications and supplements may cause ED by affecting a man's hormones, nerves or blood circulation.

Contact us to schedule an initial evaluation. Qualified participants will receive study related care at no charge and there is no need for health insurance.