Summary
- Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition when a man is not able to achieve or sustain an erection even after enough stimulation.
- If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, you must see a good sexologist to determine the underlying cause of the problem
- Once the problem is diagnosed, your doctor will provide you with appropriate treatment. If the problem is due to the damage of blood vessels in your penis, HBOT may come to your rescue.
- HBOT has shown 88% improvement in the erectile function of men suffering from erectile dysfunction.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is a condition when a man is not able to achieve or sustain an erection even after enough stimulation. As a man ages and enters his 30s, the amount of testosterone produced in his body starts gradually decreasing. This results in decreasing the desire for sex (libido). This effect can be significantly seen after the person reaches his 40s. Reduction of libido, reduced number of erections per week is common with age, but if it becomes difficult to achieve an erection, that is a problem which needs treatment by a good sexologist.
What causes Erectile Dysfunction?
Erection in a man is caused due to increased blood flow into his penis. As the man is stimulated, the muscles in the penis relax and this results in more blood flow into the penis making it longer and harder. Once the climax is reached, the muscles contract and the blood withdraws from the penis resulting in it becoming softer and smaller.
Erectile Dysfunction can happen anywhere during the erection process. The stimulation may not be communicated to the brain properly or the blood may not be able to travel to the penis to achieve and sustain an erection. There can be psychological or physical causes of erectile dysfunction. Some causes of erectile dysfunction include:
- Heart Problems
- Diabetes
- High Blood Pressure
- High Cholesterol
- Obesity
- Stress, anxiety, depression, sleep disorders
- Excessive smoking and alcohol consumption etc.
What are the usual treatments for Erectile Dysfunction?
Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction depends on the problems identified by your doctor. In men who have lower levels of testosterone, your doctor may put you on to Hormone Replacement Therapy. For some, medicines that can help in getting erections may be given. If you are suffering from psychological problems such as stress, anxiety and depression, you will need to consult a psychiatrist for treatment.
How does HBOT help in treating Erectile Dysfunction?
Men suffering from erectile dysfunction due to the damage of blood vessels are good candidates for treatment with HBOT. In a study performed on 30 men aged around 60 years who were suffering from erectile dysfunction were put on to 40 HBOT sessions. At the end of the study, erectile function was significantly improved by 88%. 24 men have showed significant improvement in having erections and sustaining them. This was very encouraging for the researchers.
Improvement in erectile function of the penis was due to angiogenesis, growth of blood vessels in the penis. When new blood vessels grow in the penis, they help in carrying more blood to the organ helping in achieving erections better than before. This treatment has proven more effective than risky and uncertain surgical procedures or medications.
Is HBOT for everyone suffering from erectile dysfunction?
The short answer is no. If you are suffering from erectile dysfunction, you first need to see your sexologist. After performing a couple of tests, your doctor will be able to determine the cause of the problem. MRI scans may also be done to the penis to see if the blood flow is normal or reduced. In case of reduced flow, your doctor may decide whether to put you on to medication or let you undergo HBOT.
Important note: Reduction in frequency of erections after 40s is common. You will need to see your sexologist if you are not able to have erection at all after 40s or if you are not able to have frequent erections while you are in 20s.
