Erectile Dysfunction (ED)

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As humans we have 3 basic desires: 

1) Eating

2) Sleep

3) Close physical intimate relations (Sexual intercourse)

This physical intimacy can be exciting and fun. However there can be sexual problems with both men and women. The commonest in men are:

• Erectile Dysfunction- inability to achieve or maintain an erection during intercourse
• Premature/delayed ejaculation
• Low libido (Sex drive)

Erectile Dysfunction (also known as impotence) has been around for as long as humans have been in existence. Techniques have varied through the years from steel mechanical external attachments, to static electricity attached to the penis and testicles, to simple aphrodisiacs like oysters, red wine, and even peanut better. In the 1970’s when Professor Yoland Lim first commenced acupuncture in Australia, erectile dysfunction was understood to be due to psychological causes and was treated almost exclusively with psychotherapy. However he started using integrative phytomolecular medicine to enhance the effect on the male organs. Now Professor Yoland Lim Health Care has developed MSX, a treatment program incorporating an Australian designed and developed machine.

CAUSES OF PHYSICAL IMPOTENCE 

Arterial Insufficiency 

Most commonly due to diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, drinking, aging, in addition to a large group of unknown aetiology (causes). With progressive hardening and blocking of the penile arteries, this reduces the arterial diameter available for blood flow.

Venous Leaking

Erections become firm and stiff by having good flow to the penis, with valves holding in the majority of blood flow to ensure it stays hard. When these outflow valves are ‘leaking’, and not functioning properly, this can lead to the blood not being able to stay within the penis, and hence ‘escaping’, and the erection to drop.

This can be due to anatomical abnormality, penile injury, scarring of the intricate valvular network in the penis or generalized loss of elasticity of erectile tissue.

Others

Other causes of physical impotence such as pelvic surgery or neurological disorders can also affect one’s erection. 

CAUSES OF PSYCHOLOGICAL IMPOTENCE 

Psychological causes include:

• Depression
• Stress
• Performance anxiety
• General day to day stress. 
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A combination of physical and psychological causes is not uncommon.

An initial failure to ‘perform’ can potentially set off a vicious cycle of repeated failure and loss of confidence. This may continue to reinforce and may cause a devastating experience to both you and your partner(s). This viscous cycle needs to be broken, so that you have belief that you know you will be able to perform, then a positive reinforcement will occur in time as your level of confidence and self esteem improves. 

Depending on the physical aggravating conditions and due to individual variation, some patients respond promptly, while others may take several treatments. We are here to help improve your confidence, both physically and emotionally.

It is now understood that if the erectile mechanism is normal, then PE has organic basis of oversensitivity, with subsequent habitual response. 

How does it work in PE?

The biggest concern amongst men with PE is whether or not they are going to orgasm early, leaving their partner unsatisfied. It gets to a point where men actually avoid sex because of these fears, especially in a new or demanding relationship. For others, sex is no longer a ‘shared experience’ and avoidance sets in. Hence, PE becomes perpetual. 

Anxiety is the final common pathway via which a variety of cultural, psychological and relationship stresses converge to produce erectile failure in men with normal genitalia. The psychological consequence of anxiety is a ‘neuronal sympathetic surge’ that releases adrenaline from the adrenal gland into the circulation, reaching the penis almost instantly, causing the penile artery to constrict and the smooth muscles to relax. This results in the rapid collapse of the erection, and a flaccid penis.