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Fibromyalgia and Erectile Dysfunction

admin — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:13:05 +0000

By Helena Ederveen

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is a complex disorder that can affect men of any age. It is the condition that prevents men from achieving or sustaining an erection. The term also includes other conditions which seriously inhibit sexual performance or render the patient unable to participate in sexual intercourse. In most cases, it is actually indicative of some underlying condition that can be treated quite easily. Often all that is required to correct this disorder is a general reduction of stress or a change in lifestyle. However, with the stigma and embarrassment associated with the condition, many men are reluctant to seek the necessary diagnosis and treatment. This can prove to be extremely dangerous, or even fatal depending on the nature of the primary disorder of which erectile dysfunction is merely a symptom.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

On a higher level, the causes of Erectile Dysfunction can be either physical or psychological. Physically, a variety of conditions such as high blood pressure, heart problems and diabetes have been known to cause impotence. Emotional issues such as mental stress or a general lack of sexual confidence are also equally likely to cause the same effect. One such common culprit of Erectile Dysfunction is Fibromyalgia.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Fibromyalgia, formerly known as Fibrositis is a chronic condition causing pain, tenderness and stiffness of the muscles, joints, and tendons. The condition is also characterized by fatigue, restless sleep, depression, anxiety and irregular bowel function. The pain caused by Fibromyalgia is not accompanied by inflammation of the tissues (which is the common cause of pain in most diseases). Consequently, despite the acute pain, the patient does not develop any kind of bodily damage or deformity. Fibromyalgia also does not damage internal organs of the body. In this respect, Fibromyalgia differs from many other rheumatic conditions such as arthritis or systemic lupus.

Causes of Fibromyalgia

Although Fibromyalgia is becoming increasingly common, its causes remain largely unknown. Patients suffering from the condition experience pain in response to stimuli that would not usually be perceived as painful. Recent findings point to elevated levels of substance P, a nerve chemical signal as a possible cause of Fibromyalgia. Reduced levels of the brain nerve chemical serotonin have also been mentioned in connection with the causes of Fibromyalgia. Detailed analysis of pain in Fibromyalgia patients has revealed the super sensitivity of the central nervous system of such patients. This, coupled with a diffuse disturbance of pain perception could also be a cause of Fibromyalgia.

Fibromyalgia and Erectile Dysfunction

In recent times, as the understanding about Fibromyalgia has increased, a definite correlation between Fibromyalgia and Erectile Dysfunction has been documented. It must also be pointed out that the number of reported cases of Fibromyalgia and associated Erectile problems has been on the rise.

Fibromyalgia can be a direct, as well as an indirect, cause of this disorder. The pain caused by Fibromyalgia, particularly in the testicle and penis area, is the most direct and immediate cause of Erectile Dysfunction. Many sufferers of Fibromyalgia (both male and female) also report reduced sexual drive. This leads to performance anxiety, depression and ultimately impotence in the male patients. Excessive physical and mental fatigue caused by Sleep deprivation and muscle and joint pains are also instrumental in reducing the libido and rendering the patient unable to perform sexually.

In general cases of Erectile Dysfunction, an effective treatment is physical exercise. However, the pain associated with Fibromyalgia makes strenuous exercise extremely difficult. As a result, the lack of sustaining an erection and the probability of its occurrence are increased in patients of Fibromyalgia. Erectile Dysfunction can be directly combated with a variety of drugs that are available on prescription. In some cases where the causes of impotence are chiefly emotional, psychotherapy can be a very effective treatment as well as Neurolinguistic programming techniques. And to explore the underlying causes in comprehensive biochemical screening, which has a foundation in nutritional and environmental influences.

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Article Source: EzineArticles.com

What to tell your doctor if you have erectile problems?

megdilts — Tue, 12 May 2009 16:33:02 +0000

Talking about ED can be difficult. You might use a phrase like “I’ve been having problems in the bedroom” or “I’ve been having erection problems.” Remember that a healthy sex life is part of a healthy life. Don’t feel embarrassed about seeking help. ED is a medical problem, and your doctor treats medical problems every day.

If the interaction with your doctor doesn’t put you at ease, ask for a referral to another doctor. Your doctor may send you to a urologist-a doctor who specializes in sexual and urologic problems.

Your partner may want to come with you to see the doctor. Many doctors say ED is easier to treat when both partners are involved.

To find the cause of your ED, your doctor will take a complete medical history and do a physical examination.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

About Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

megdilts — Sat, 09 May 2009 22:57:11 +0000

Points to Remember about Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.
ED affects 15 to 30 million American men.
ED usually has a physical cause.
ED is treatable at all ages.
Treatments include psychotherapy, drug therapy, vacuum devices, and surgery.

How does an erection occur?

admin — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:34:26 +0000

The penis contains two chambers called the corpora cavernosa, which run the length of the organ (see figure 1). A spongy tissue fills the chambers. The corpora cavernosa are surrounded by a membrane, called the tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries. The urethra, which is the channel for urine and ejaculate, runs along the underside of the corpora cavernosa and is surrounded by the corpus spongiosum.

Erection begins with sensory or mental stimulation, or both. Impulses from the brain and local nerves cause the muscles of the corpora cavernosa to relax, allowing blood to flow in and fill the spaces. The blood creates pressure in the corpora cavernosa, making the penis expand. The tunica albuginea helps trap the blood in the corpora cavernosa, thereby sustaining erection. When muscles in the penis contract to stop the inflow of blood and open outflow channels, erection is reversed.

Figure 1. Arteries (top) and veins (bottom) penetrate the long, filled cavities running the length of the penis—the corpora cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum. Erection occurs when relaxed muscles allow the corpora cavernosa to fill with excess blood fed by the arteries, while drainage of blood through the veins is blocked.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse

Erectile Dysfunction

admin — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 17:28:21 +0000

Erectile dysfunction, sometimes called “impotence,” is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. The word “impotence” may also be used to describe other problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation or orgasm. Using the term erectile dysfunction makes it clear that those other problems are not involved.

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. These variations make defining ED and estimating its incidence difficult. Estimates range from 15 million to 30 million, depending on the definition used. According to the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NAMCS), for every 1,000 men in the United States, 7.7 physician office visits were made for ED in 1985. By 1999, that rate had nearly tripled to 22.3. The increase happened gradually, presumably as treatments such as vacuum devices and injectable drugs became more widely available and discussing erectile function became accepted. Perhaps the most publicized advance was the introduction of the oral drug sildenafil citrate (Viagra) in March 1998. NAMCS data on new drugs show an estimated 2.6 million mentions of Viagra at physician office visits in 1999, and one-third of those mentions occurred during visits for a diagnosis other than ED.

In older men, ED usually has a physical cause, such as disease, injury, or side effects of drugs. Any disorder that causes injury to the nerves or impairs blood flow in the penis has the potential to cause ED. Incidence increases with age: About 5 percent of 40-year-old men and between 15 and 25 percent of 65-year-old men experience ED. But it is not an inevitable part of aging.

ED is treatable at any age, and awareness of this fact has been growing. More men have been seeking help and returning to normal sexual activity because of improved, successful treatments for ED. Urologists, who specialize in problems of the urinary tract, have traditionally treated ED; however, urologists accounted for only 25 percent of Viagra mentions in 1999.

Source: National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse