According to the Cleveland Clinic, 52 percent of men experience erectile dysfunction (ED) at some point in their lives. A frequently talked about penis problem, erectile dysfunction has many different faces. Causes, treatment, and experience are unique to each man. ED delves deeper into a man’s physical, emotional, and mental health in more ways than many men believe, and often times, doesn’t originate in the penis itself. Men need to know all the facts about erectile dysfunction so they can do their best to prevent it, or at a minimum, know how to manage the condition for a healthy, active sex life.

Erectile Dysfunction Defined

Erectile dysfunction is more than an "every once in a while" problem. Men with ED cannot create or maintain an erection at least 25 percent of the time when they try to. Erectile dysfunction is a penis problem that is chronic, meaning that it can be managed, but not entirely cured. While men of any age can have ED, men over 40 do have a higher instance and risk for experiencing erectile dysfunction, and that risk only increases with time.

Erectile dysfunction also isn’t experienced in the same way by all men. Some men can get an erection but cannot keep it long enough to achieve release, whether from self-stimulation or intimacy with a partner. Other men cannot get hard at all. Still, other men can get an erection sometimes, just not reliably. Hardness can also vary. All said and done, erectile dysfunction presents in many ways, and as a result, can be treated in many ways.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

Many things can cause erectile dysfunction. Causes can be physical, psychological, or pharmaceutical. The most common reason, however, is that erectile dysfunction is a symptom of a man’s initial or root disease. This includes conditions such as:

- Diabetes

- Obesity

- Cancer

- High cholesterol

- High blood pressure

- Stroke

- Heart disease

- Multiple sclerosis

Diagnosing and Treating Erectile Dysfunction

A doctor will use one or more the following tests to diagnose erectile dysfunction:

- Physical Exam - The doctor or urologist will check the reproductive region for signs of damage such as bruising, lumps, excessive scar tissue, or a dramatic curve in the penis.

- Urine Test - This test looks for ED-associated illnesses like diabetes and cancer.

- Blood Test - A blood test will be used to look for things like low testosterone, diabetes, heart disease, and other conditions.

- Ultrasound - A specialist facilitates this test. He or she will wave a wand-like ultrasound device over the blood vessels that supply blood to the penis. This test is sometimes heightened by the injection of medication to produce an erection.

- Psychological Exam - A physician, psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist will perform a 1- to 2-hour examination to look for anxiety, depression, or other mental health issues.

Once correctly diagnosed, a treatment plan will be created depending on the root cause or causes of erectile dysfunction. Sometimes simple lifestyle changes like losing weight or getting more exercise can reverse ED. Medications to treat root causes can also be used. Finally, some men opt for erection-producing pills like Viagra, or the P-spot or penile implants.

Men who suffer from this common penis problem have also benefitted from using a specially formulated penis health oil ( health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which has been clinically proven safe and mild for skin ) to help treat their erectile dysfunction. These types of oils improve blood flow, resulting in harder, long-lasting erections from critical nutrients, such as L-arginine and vitamin C. Other vitamins, such as A, B, and D, also advance penis health by protecting the penis from bacteria and nourishing the skin to preserve penile sensitivity. Use once per day or more often for best results.