Mental health and physical exam
by Admin
Posted on 14-03-2023 12:12 AM
If you have depression or another mental health issue, like anxiety, your risk of having ed increases. Your ed may cause depression or anxiety, or your mental health condition may contribute to ed. For most men, though, the two are connected in a complicated relationship. This is because, in large part, sexual urges and desire start in your head rather than in your body. And for sexual intercourse to work, both psychological and physical factors must work together. Mental health issues, like depression or anxiety, can cause imbalanced brain chemicals. When this happens, it can interrupt the signals from your brain to your penis.
Finding the cause of your ed will help direct your treatment options. Diagnosing ed starts with your health care provider asking questions about your heart and vascular health and your erection problem. Your provider may also give you a physical exam, order lab tests or refer you to a urologist. See more see less.
The first step in treating ed is to determine what caused it. If it’s something medical, then the best thing to do is to treat the illness. For example, if the cause is diabetes, then you should get treatment to improve your blood sugar levels. If a psychological issue is causing ed, seeing a mental health professional may improve your ability to get an erection. There are also medicines that can help you have an erection. All of them are available only by prescription. Note that no otc medications, herbal remedies, or supplements that claim to treat ed have been approved by the fda to be safe and effective.
Diabetes, Sexual, & Bladder Problems
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many different health conditions can affect the nerves, muscles, or blood flow that is needed to have an erection.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis can contribute to ed. Surgery to treat prostate or bladder problems can also affect the nerves and blood vessels that control an erection.
Over time, blood vessels and nerves in the penis can become damaged. Ed can also be caused by other conditions, such as prostate or bladder surgery. Certain medicines, such as some pills for high blood pressure or depression, may cause ed. Pills for stomach ulcers or heartburn may also cause it. Ask your health care provider if ed is a side effect of any of your medicines. There may be other pills you can take. Remember, talk with your health care provider or diabetes educator before trying any treatment for ed or before stopping any of your medicines. Lifestyle choices that contribute to heart disease and vascular problems also increase the chances of ed.
When should I see a doctor about my sexual or bladder problems?
It is important to tell your doctor about any erectile problems, as they can be a symptom of something else, including cardiovascular disease. To find out what's causing erection problems, a doctor will begin by asking about other medical conditions the man might have, what medications he's taking, when his erection problems occur, and what form they take. Standardized questionnaires or surveys about erectile function and the satisfaction of sexual intercourse may be used to identify the nature of erectile dysfunction. Blood pressure tests and blood tests are standard. Several devices, including an ultrasound, can track blood flow in and out of the penis and identify circulatory problems.
To diagnose an erection problem, your doctor may: review your risk factors. This includes things like any medicines you take and how much you drink. Ask questions about your sexual function, including how often you have erection problems. Do a complete physical exam of the belly, penis, prostate, rectum, and testicles. Do lab tests for testosterone and other hormones and for blood sugar. Your doctor may start treatment with pills. But you may get more tests if pills don't work or your doctor thinks that testing is needed. Tests can help your doctor find out whether physical factors are causing your erection problem.
The brain plays a key role in triggering the series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with feelings of sexual excitement. A number of things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. These include: depression, anxiety, or other mental health conditions. Of note, research shows that people with cardiovascular disease are more likely to be depressed, so they should be screened for depression if they develop ed. Stress at home or at work relationship problems due to stress, poor communication, or other concerns anxiety about sexual performance.