FAQ
- What is ED?
- What causes ED?
- Can ED be prevented?
- Can you help me, or do I need to see a specialist in ED? If so, how can I find the right one for me?
- Will I need to have tests to find out what is causing my ED? Why are you recommending them?
- What types of treatments are available for ED?
- What treatment do you suggest for me and why?
- Are there side effects from treatment?
- What are the pros and cons of each type of treatment you recommend for me?
- What happens if the first treatment doesn’t help?
- Are there any lifestyle changes I can make that could help my symptoms?
A short IIEF-5 Questionnaire can assist you in having a discussion with your healthcare provider regarding Erectile dysfunction.
| Score | Total Score | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Over the past six months: | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| How do you rate your confidence that you could get and keep an erection? | Very low | Low | Moderate | High | Very high | |
| When you had erections with sexual stimulation, how often were your erections hard enough for penetration? | Almost never or never | Much less than half the time | About half the time | Much more than half the time | Almost always or always | |
| During sexual intercourse, how often were you able to maintain your erection after you had penetrated (entered) your partner? | Almost never or never | Much less than half the time | About half the time | Much more than half the time | Almost always or always | |
| During sexual intercourse how difficult was it to maintain your erection to the completion of intercourse? | Almost never or never | Much less than half the time | About half the time | Much more than half the time | Almost always or always | |
| When you attempted sexual intercourse how often was it satisfactory for you? | Almost never or never | Much less than half the time | About half the time | Much more than half the time | Almost always or always | |
| The IIEF-5 score is the sum of questions 1 to 5. The lowest score is 5 the highest score 25 | ||||||
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, or more commonly referred to as ED, is the inability to achieve and maintain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse.
Is Erectile Dysfunction a Normal Part of Aging?
The answer is mixed, as age can play a role in ED especially when a person has other risk factors and health issues. ED doesn’t have to be a part of getting older. While it is true that older men may need more stimulation to achieve an erection, they should still be able to get an erection and enjoy sex.
Can Erectile Dysfunction Be Prevented?
By leading a healthy lifestyle and managing and reducing your risk factors for heart disease, maintaining a desirable weight, eating a healthy diet, quitting smoking, drinking less or no alcohol, keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure in a healthy range, and increasing physical activity, you will also be reducing your risk factors for ED .
How Is Erectile Dysfunction Treated?
There are many different ways ED can be treated, including: oral medications, , vacuum erection device (VED®), sex therapy, penile injections, and surgery (penile implants). Each type of treatment has its own advantages and disadvantages. Talk to your doctor to determine the best treatment for you.
How Successful Are Medications Such as Viagra at Treating ED in Diabetics?
Medications such as sildenafil citrate (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra®, Staxyn®), or avanafil (Stendra®) are often successful therapy for erectile dysfunction in men, with a minimum of side effects for most men.