Dr. Pratik Shah

Erectile Dysfunction: What Every Man Should Know

Erectile dysfunction is an enormous fear of men everywhere, of any age. More than 30 million men in the United States alone suffer from it, and the odds of it happening usually correspond with age: Even with excellent penis care, the older a man gets, the more trouble he might have with getting it up.

The supplement industry has jumped on the fears of ED and pushed all sorts of pills and other medications that claim to help - but true ED goes far beyond what a 'miracle pill' can fix.

It's time to get serious about understanding erectile dysfunction in order to make an empowered, appropriate decision on how to handle it.

1) Myth #1: One bad night equals a problem. Who hasn't had a problem with getting it up? It happens to everyone on occasion, no matter how physically fit a man is or how much he desires his partner. It usually happens after drinking too much, dealing with some jerk at the office, or being so tired it's hard to walk straight, much less do anything else. It might be ED only if the problem persists for three months or more.

2) Myth #2: It's a penis problem. Though what is happening to the body shows up in penis problems, the fact is that ED usually stems from other medical issues. High blood pressure, high cholesterol or high blood sugar can all damage the smaller blood vessels in the body, including those in the penis. The result can be ED. Other factors might come into play as well, such as low testosterone or even depression.

3) Myth #3: Bad habits have nothing to do with this. Though it would be nice to believe that all those vices don't reach beyond the moment, that's just not true. Smokers tend to have more problems with ED than non-smokers. The uses of illicit drugs, marijuana and alcohol have all been linked to erectile dysfunction. Drop the habits and the penis might rise again.

4) Myth #4: Testosterone supplements work. That depends. A man who has been diagnosed with Low-T - anything less than 300ng/dl, as per lab tests - might benefit from prescription-strength supplements. However, many who suffer from Low-T also have other medical issues that can lead to ED, and testosterone won't make those go away.

5) Myth #5: The 'Little Blue Pill' is the only option. The marketing machine behind Viagra, Cialis and other common ED treatments has definitely done its job, as most men now believe that those little pills are the only way to ED salvation. But for many, the pills don't work. What then? There are many other drugs that work wonders, including injectable medications. (And no, those injections don't hurt nearly as much as most men think they will.)

6) Myth #6: Getting it up means it isn't ED. Not so fast there, hoss. Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to become erect and keep that hardness through satisfying sex. But what does that mean, exactly? Some men are able to get it up but can't get hard enough for penetration. Others get it up just fine, but can't keep it up very long. Some simply aren't able to get hardness at all. All of these problems are considered ED.

7) Myth #7: This is all psychological. Unfortunately, this statement is often made by intimate partners who are confused by ED and see it as a personal slight. Nothing could be further from the truth. Men who have ED often have powerful desire for their partners, which leads to terrible frustration when the equipment doesn't work as planned. Though ED might have some psychological elements, the problem is much more than that.

Maintaining excellent penis health

Unfortunately, there is no magic pill or cream that will ease the issues of erectile dysfunction. However, maintaining overall good health - including good penis health - is essential to ensuring that everything possible is done to curb the problem of ED. Keeping the skin smooth and supple is the job of a high-quality penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven safe and mild for skin), especially one with numerous vitamins and a soothing emollient. Look for crèmes that include Shea butter for moisturizing, acetyl L carnitine for protection, and natural hydrators, such as Vitamin E.