Erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence is a disease when a man cannot get or maintain an erection. This can seriously affect quality of life for millions of men. The development of medicines to treat ED has been a considerable advance in recent years.
Disease: Erectile Dysfunction
Last update: May 2005
Intro
FAQ: What does the future hold?
The development of new therapies to tackle the problems caused by diabetes and blood vessel diseases are already underway as is further research into compounds that act on the brain.
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What is it?
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is the inability of a man to get or maintain an erection. The major causes of erectile dysfunction are problems of the blood vessels in the penis associated with age. -
Who gets it?
It is estimated that 25 to 35 million men over the age of 18 in Europe are affected by ED. The majority of sufferers are in the 40 to 70 age group and the occurrence increases with age.
Risk factors include high blood pressure, diabetes and diseases of the blood vessels. Other causes include hormonal or neurological disorders, such as stroke or multiple sclerosis.
Around forty per cent of men who undergo prostate surgery also experience problems with erections. -
What can be done about it?
In recent years there have been considerable advances in the treatment of ED. There is now a special class of oral treatments available (known as PDE5 inhibitors) which enhance the flow of the blood to the penis when sexually aroused.
For patients who do not respond to these treatments, or for whom they are unsuitable, there are a number of treatments that can be injected or inserted straight into the penis, causing the blood vessels to dilate.
A new medicine available, which dissolves under the tongue, acts on the areas of the brain known to be involved in erections. -
What does the future hold?
The development of new therapies to tackle the problems caused by diabetes and blood vessel diseases are already underway as is further research into compounds that act on the brain.