Erectile Dysfunction — There’s a lot of misinformation about the causes and treatments of erectile dysfunction (ED). To know the facts, you may need to bust some myths along the way.
According to WedbMd there’s plenty of myths on erectile dysfunction and the first starts with a man’s age.
Myth: ED is a normal part of growing older and men have to learn to live with it. Fact: Although ED is more common among older men that doesn’t mean it’s something you have to live with. Lots of guys are able to get erections well into their senior years, and there’s likely no reason that you can’t be one of them.
Myth: Erectile dysfunction doesn’t affect younger men. Fact: Although ED is more common in men over 75, guys of any age can have it.
Myth: ED may be upsetting, but there’s nothing dangerous about it. Fact: Although ED itself isn’t dangerous, it can be an early warning sign of a serious health condition, such as diabetes or heart problems. It’s important to see your BIMC doctor if you have ED.
Myth: If you have trouble getting an erection, it’s because you’re not attracted to your partner. Fact: Many things cause erection problems. Although lack of sexual attraction to your partner might be one of them, it’s far more likely to be something else.
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Myth: Pills are the only way to treat erectile dysfunction. Fact: There are many options to treat ED. Medicine that has been approved for ED work well for many men. These include medications taken by mouth, injected into the penis, or put into the urethra — the tube that goes through the penis and carries urine and semen.
If your ED is caused by another health problem, like high blood pressure, you can help your erection problems if you treat that condition. If you have ED because it’s a side effect of a medicine you take, your BIMC doctor may be able to switch you to another medication. Don’t stop taking any medication before talking to your doctor.
You may also be able to make a few lifestyle changes. For example, it may help if you quit smoking, lose weight, or cut down on how much alcohol you drink.
Myth: I can treat ED myself without seeing a doctor by using herbal remedies and supplements. Fact: You run several risks when you take supplements for ED. For one thing, you may not be able to tell the exact contents of many of the supplements sold as ED treatments. It’s possible they could have dangerous ingredients that might not mix well with other medications you take.
Also, if you take supplements without talking to your doctor, it means you’re not getting checked for conditions like diabetes and heart disease that may be causing your ED.
Beware of scams
Recent research about stem cell procedure as an example has produced excitement over possible cures for this frustrating condition for men.
But the possibility that one of the new innovations might work has led to opportunists taking advantage of desperate patients, said Dr. Irwin Goldstein, director of sexual medicine at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego.
“There’s growing excitement in our field about strategies that activate stem cells and generate downstream tissues,” Goldstein told Healthline.
But, he added, there’s “sort of an overexcitement among doctors trying to make money and sell devices to do regenerative stuff for ED without the data, and it’s a little frustrating and is taking advantage of people.”
True data will come from double-blind, placebo-controlled studies, he said, and “those studies don’t exist yet.”
