Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence in Singapore, is a man’s inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for intercourse.
If this problem only occurs occasionally, it’s not a cause for concern but if it consistently happens each time before intercourse, you may be suffering from erectile dysfunction.
While ED is not a life threatening disease, it can greatly affect your self-confidence and sometimes even contribute to problems in a relationship.
Underlying medical condition, excessive smoking and/or alcohol consumption, sleep disorder, ongoing treatments, recent surgery, taking medication or low testosterone.
Depression, anxiety, other mental health conditions, stress or relationship problems.
Underlying heart disease could also contribute to erectile dysfunction. In this case, getting treatment as soon as possible is recommended to get your health in shape before addressing the problem of erectile dysfunction.
Symptoms of ED are usually persistent and include;
If these symptoms only happen occasionally, they may not be signs of ED and could just be situational. However, if symptoms are persistent (happens more than six months), consider seeking professional help to get the right treatment.
Erectile dysfunction is typically not painful. If you do feel any pain or discomfort as a result of not being able to get and keep an erection, you may have an underlying health condition that should be addressed.
If you still experience pain after completing treatment for the health condition, speak to your doctor about it.
More often than not, erectile dysfunction causes psychological and emotional pain in ways such as stress, anxiety, an unsatisfactory sex life, or the inability to get your partner pregnant.
The older you get, the longer it might take for you to get an erection. You might need to explore different ways to get an erection or encourage more direct touch to your penis to get and keep an erection during sex.
Although there are no specific groups of Singaporean men that will suffer from ED, the risks of getting this condition could increase based on the following factors:
Underlying medical conditions
Excessive smoking
Being overweight
Ongoing medical treatments
Medication
Any psychological conditions
Excessive drug or alcohol use
Your doctor may require you to undergo a physical examination to rule out any possibilities of underlying medical conditions before diagnosing a patient with erectile dysfunction.
If any chronic health conditions are suspected, the following tests may be required:
Blood tests
Urine test (urinalysis)
Ultrasound
Psychological examination
There are a few options available when it comes to treating erectile dysfunction depending on the cause of the problem.
The most common way is to prescribe oral medication that enhances the effects of nitric oxide, a natural chemical produced by your body to relax the muscles in the penis. Once they are relaxed, blood flow to your penis should increase, allowing you to get an erection long enough to have intercourse.
Other ways to treat erectile dysfunction include penis pumps, surgery or implants.
If the cause of your erectile dysfunction is psychological such as stress, anxiety or depression, your doctor may recommend you get counseling as a form of treatment to improve your mental state.
