OTHER CAUSES AND YOUR TREATMENT OPTIONS
■ PORNOGRAPHY, generalised anxiety and psychological issues are the most common triggers for ED in younger men but the picture in older men is much more complicated and scientists have identified 37 different risk factors for ED.
The most common underlying problem is lack of blood flow to the penis, and ED is often the first sign of a more serious health issue such as heart disease, hardening of the arteries, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes.
Men with ED have a 43 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, a 34 per cent increased chance of stroke and by the time they are diagnosed, one in three men with diabetes already has the vascular damage that is known to cause ED.
That’s why the British Medical Journal advises that men’s health screening should include asking whether ED is an issue.
■ ED drugs such as Viagra and Cialis work by dilating blood vessels to increase blood flow to the penis. They are not suitable for men with health conditions including angina, low blood pressure or a recent history of heart attack or stroke as they dilate blood vessels throughout the body. This body-wide action can trigger side effects including flushing and dizziness.
“Additionally, there is a lag period of at least 30 minutes, often over an hour, before there is a response to taking a pill,” said Dr Hood. “Sex has to be planned and this can take a little of the magic out of lovemaking. A new treatment, Eroxon gel, can be incorporated into foreplay so it builds intimacy with a partner and a sense of security in the relationship.”
Eroxon works by increasing blood flow to the penis, via an evaporative action. It can be sold over-thecounter, without the need for a prescription or conversation with a pharmacist (£24.99 for a pack of four single-dose tubes, though it has just been made available on prescription in England and Wales for men unwilling or unable to use ED medicines such as Viagra and Cialis).
As the gel evaporates, it activates a rapid cooling sensation followed by gradual warming, which increases blood flow by stimulating temperature-sensitive nerve endings in the penis.
This means it only dilates blood vessels in the penis, so it can be used by men who are unable to use Viagra and other similar medicines that act on blood vessels throughout the body.
The gel’s efficacy has been confirmed in two clinical trials which found 60 per cent of men who used Eroxon achieved an erection within 10 minutes.
■ Counselling and therapy can also help if ED is triggered by emotional or mental health issues, so visit your GP. Unfortunately, there can be a long wait for these services on the NHS, so if you choose to pay to see a counsellor, make sure they are a member of the British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy (bacp.co.uk), College of Sexual and Relationship Therapists (cosrt. org.uk) or Institute of Psychosexual Medicine (ipm.org.uk).