ERECTILE Dysfunction (ED) is described as a man's inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection adequate for sexual intercourse. This situation can be very distressing for both the man and his partner.

"Men want to be macho, so it can be very devastating for them to not have or not be able to maintain an erection," Dr Heron Edwards, general practitioner at Edwards Medical Centre in Liguanea said. "The younger men in particular will feel inadequate and in feeling that way it makes it even more difficult for them. Some will even stop having sex completely."

While some persons are of the view that an overly active sexual lifestyle in young men is the cause of ED, Dr Edwards puts this and other frequently asked questions to rest.

AW: Can an overly active sexual lifestyle in young men lead to ED later on?
Dr: No. Definitely not so.

AW: Can ED be experienced over short periods, say one to two weeks?
Dr: Some of the times the man may not have ED but may have some psychological problem. Sometimes this may show itself by him getting an erection but not being able to maintain it. What he needs to do is find out the psychological cause so it can be treated. Once the cause is treated he is OK.

AW: Should older men worry if they realise that they cannot get an erection as firmly and as often as before?
Dr: Men in their 20s may have strong and regular erections (two to three times in one night) but as they grow older, it become more difficult to get an erection. It now takes more stimulation for him to get one but the good thing is that it now lasts longer.

AW: At what age do men start to see changes in their erections?
Dr: At mid to late 30s men will begin to notice a difference in the amount of erections. This is quite normal and not a result of ED. It goes with ageing.

Physical causes of Erectile Dysfunction
* Alcohol and tobacco use
* Fatigue/lack of rest
* Brain or spinal-cord injuries
* Liver or kidney failure
* Stroke
* Some types of prostate or bladder surgery.

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