Homeopathic Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a fairly common condition affecting men worldwide. Though the term ED covers a wide range of disorders, it commonly refers to having trouble getting or maintaining an erection. ED is not uncommon and its incidence increases with progressive age. It was formerly called impotence and its incidence increases in ages above 65.

Most often the symptoms of erectile dysfunction are:

• Inability to achieve an erection or maintaining it to complete the act of sexual intercourse
• Premature ejaculation
• Complete inability to achieve an erection.

Though once considered a taboo, more men are now seeking information regarding ED as well as volunteering to share valuable information about it. Current estimates state that Chronic ED affects about 5% of men in their 40s and 15-25% of men by the age of 65. Transient ED and inadequate erection affect as many as 50% of men between the ages of 40 and 70.

To understand ED, it is essential to understand the normal process of achieving an erection. The anatomy of the penis is worth understanding in this aspect.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction:

A successful, sustained erection requires a sequence of events to occur in a precise fashion. Anything which disrupts this sequence can lead to problems either getting, or keeping an erection.

The most common cause of erectile dysfunction is damage to the tissues, either the nerves, arteries, muscles or fibrous tissue.

• Diabetes
• Kidney disease
• Chronic alcoholism
• Multiple sclerosis
• Underactive thyroid disorder
• Neurogenic Disorders (spinal cord and brain injuries, nerve disorders such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and stroke.)
• Damage to the nerves and arteries near the penis during surgery, particularly for prostate and bladder cancer. 
• Physical injury to the penis, spinal cord, prostate, bladder or pelvis.
• Common medications, including blood pressure drugs, antihistamiines, antidepressants and tranquilizers can precipitate erectile dysfunction. 
• Psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, guilt, depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure cause up to 20% of cases.
• Lifestyle: alcohol, drugs and smoking.
• Illness of the tissue of the penis itself (cavernosal disorders)  
• Hormonal Disorders (pituitary gland tumor; low level of the hormone testosterone). 
• Aging.

Diagnosis of Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction has many predisposing factors. One of the basic aims of diagnosing this condition is to ascertain whether the underlying cause of ED stems from psychological factors or whether there are indeed any physiological causes. More often both these factors co-exist in the same person.

A useful and simple way to distinguish between physiological and psychological impotence is to determine whether the patient ever has an erection.

If never, the problem is likely to be physiological; if sometimes (however rarely), it could be physiological or psychological.