It’s not hard to get hard, right? Maybe it was a bad day, but you first noticed it a few weeks ago, while in the bedroom with your partner. You brushed it off as a fluke. However, it keeps happening again and again. Now you’re worried. And researching makes it even worse. How do you even bring it up to friends?
Erectile dysfunction.
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According to a study conducted by the Singapore Medical Journal, around 51.3% of men in their 30s experience some form of erectile dysfunction (ED), yet only 30% seek treatment for it. ED is an incredibly common issue, but being taboo and embarrassing in nature, many go untreated and are unaware of its causes and cures. We hope to bring clarity to some misconceptions about ED, and share about the various treatments you can get in Singapore. Get ready to put some joy back in the bedroom.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction And What Happens When You Get It?
It’s happened before, the dreaded time when you can’t get it up, or struggle to do so. Don’t sweat it though, it’s perfectly normal that sh*t happens. However, if you continually find yourself struggling to get or keep an erection, there is a high possibility that you might have ED.
So when exactly is it considered ED?
Corpora cavernosa – that’s the two cylindrical chambers in the penis, containing a major artery in each of them, as well as blood vessels and tissue. Some sexy action turned you on? The brain sends signals to increase the blood flow into your penis by dilating blood vessels. As the pressure builds, blood is trapped in the corpora cavernosa, and voila! Your penis is erect. But if not enough blood flows in, or if the blood is unable to stay there, the struggle to get hard is well….hard.
This might put the brakes on the activities you had planned for you and your partner, and can be frustrating and embarrassing.
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
There are many reasons that contribute to ED, but they can be divided into 2 categories: physical and psychological causes.
Here are some of the most common causes from each category:
Common Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
- High blood pressure: This is an incredibly common cause of ED as it can affect the amount of blood that can flow to your penis. Medication used to treat high blood pressure can also cause ED or worsen any pre-existing sexual performance issues you might have.
- High cholesterol: Having high cholesterol levels can damage your blood vessels, which makes it difficult to get hard and remain hard.
- Cardiovascular disease: Having persistent ED issues is often a sign of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease restricts the blood flow to different parts of the body and to the penis, which makes it difficult for you to get hard.
- Type 1 or Type 2 Diabetes: ED is a common symptom of both types of diabetes, with up to 75% of men with diabetes also experiencing ED. Diabetes can reduce your sex drive due to changes in your testosterone production.
- Alcoholism: Besides decreasing your ability to perform in the bedroom, overindulging in booze or having an alcohol problem has the potential to cause ED . It can also lead to permanent nerve damage if left untreated.
Common Psychological Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction
In many instances of ED, especially ED in men under the ages of 40, the underlying cause is due to psychological issues. As arousal begins in the brain, suffering from psychological issues can play a huge role in causing ED. Here are some of the most common psychological causes of ED:
- Mental health issues: Depression and anxiety are the most common psychological causes of ED, as they both can adversely affect your libido and make it difficult for you to be turned on.
- Stress: Stress can interfere with your brain’s ability to redirect additional blood to flow to get and maintain an erection.
- Relationship issues: If you are currently undergoing problems in your relationship which affects either your trust in or your attraction to your partner, ED could occur or worsen.
Find ED Treatment In Singapore
In order to treat your ED, your doctor will first have to determine the underlying cause of it. Doctors will ask about your medical history, sexual practices and sexual partners in order to get a better understanding of your condition.
Doctors might also conduct medical screenings to determine the health of the blood vessels in your penis or check for abnormal hormone levels. Your doctor will then be able to prescribe you an appropriate treatment to improve or reverse your ED.
Here are some of the most common ED treatments that your doctor might prescribe:
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Oral Medication
While researching ED, you might have come across “the little blue” (known by its brand name Viagra and its generic name Sildenafil) that touts itself as being the best way to treat ED.
And it’s true! Prescription oral medication like Viagra, Sildenafil or Tadalafil are usually the first line of treatment when it comes to ED as they are a safe and effective way for you to get you hard.
So how exactly does ED medication work?
Commonly prescribed ED medication such as Viagra, Sildenafil and Tadalafil all belong to a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors. They help to slow the enzyme phosphodiesterase type-5 (PDE5) from regulating the chemicals in your blood which can make it difficult for you to get and maintain an erection. By inhibiting and slowing down PDE5, these ED medications are able to relax the blood vessel walls and allow for blood to flow more readily so you can get and keep an erection.
These medications are to be taken as-needed, so you’ll be able to get hard and get back to having some fun in the bedroom.
Contrary to popular belief, ED medication won’t cause you get random erections or increase your sex drive. They will still require you to be sexually aroused in order for an erection to occur.
2. Talk Therapy
It might seem strange but attending a talk therapy session might actually help improve your ED problems. If the root cause of your ED is psychological, going for sessions can help you to identify the root cause of your depression, anxiety or stress.
Talk therapy will also give you the tools to overcome and manage them. This should lead to an improvement in your ED and sexual performance.
3. Improving Your Cardiovascular Health
Going to the gym (but not overdoing it) could actually help improve your ED. If the root cause of your ED is due to cardiovascular health issues (like high blood pressure, high cholesterol and cardiovascular disease), your doctor might suggest that you undertake some lifestyle changes to improve both your heart health and overall health.
Going to the gym, eating a balanced diet, cutting back on booze and quitting cigarettes can improve or even reverse your ED.
Going For ED Treatment In Singapore
We get it. Going down a clinic, enduring the long lines while you worry about being seen, and finally having to speak to your doctor about your penis; it can be terribly embarrassing and awkward.
However, that shouldn’t stop you from getting treatment for your ED. With ofnoah, a zero judgement digital health clinic for men in Singapore, you can get the ED treatment you need from the comfort of home.
While it can be an embarrassing topic to broach, you shouldn’t feel alone in your struggles with ED. There are several ED treatments available in Singapore that can help you overcome ED safely and effectively. Once you get the treatment you need, it won’t be hard to get hard anymore!
