Wednesday, April 30, 2008

SEX - Hidden Diabetes Casualty?

Sex seems like an eternally exciting, rewarding and straightforward act. However, for lot of people and couples the reality is quite different. This article is about erectile dysfunction, a common sexual problem in men with diabetes.

What is ED

ED is known as the unrelenting inability to get or sustain an erection that is satisfactory for sexual activity. Lot of men will experience erectile problems during their lifetime, but if the condition lasts for 3 months or longer, it is clinically defined as ED.

Although ED affects most men at some point in their lives, it is much more common in men with diabetes. Fifty percent of men will experience ED within 10 years of diagnosis of diabetes. Older men with a longer duration of diabetes, poor blood glucose control, or who smoke, have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and heart disease, are at a higher risk.

Diabetes causes cause injury to the walls of the blood vessels, which affects circulation and blood flow to the penis. ED can also be a side effect of drugs that are often prescribed to men with diabetes.

Treating ED

There is a number of fruitful treatments for ED. It is important for couples to be involved in any discussion about choice of treatment.Medications with PDE5 inhibitors like Cialis Generic Tadalafil, Sildenafil Citrate, and Vardenafil help men achieve and maintain an erection. With foreplay from partner, these Medications increase blood flow to the penis, allowing an erection to occur naturally.