FAQs

My husband has recently started to have erection problems which he will not discuss what could be happening?

Answer

There are four erection issues that men may experience:

•Premature ejaculation - reaching orgasm and ejaculating (coming) too quickly, either before or very soon after a man enters his partner

•Retarded ejaculation - maintaining an erection but unable to ejaculate

•Limited or no sexual desire - inability to experience sexual arousal and have an erection

•Erectile difficulty - ED (impotence) - inability to get or keep an erection despite normal arousal.

Several hundred thousand men in Australia are affected by ED. It can occur at any age but is more common as men grow older.

Some causes are:
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Prostate cancer
• Damage to blood vessels due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, long- term heavy alcohol or smoking
• Multiple sclerosis (MS), spinal injury and pelvic surgery
• Relationship problems
• Depression and anxiety
• Medications
• Stress or fatigue

Recent advances in treatment of erection problems makes it possible for men and their partners to get help.

Treatments

If you think the ED could be related to stress, relationship problems, anxiety or self-esteem, look at these problems first, and perhaps try counselling.

Medical treatments:
•Drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) and tadalafil (Cialis). Due to its 36-hour effect, Cialis it is also known as the weekend pill.

•Self-injection therapy

•Hormonal treatments

•Penile implant surgery - permanent inflatable rod inserted in the penis

If you have concerns, see your doctor or contact Family Planning NSW Healthline 1300 658 886