Erectile Dysfunction (also known as ED) is a condition that occurs in men of all ages. Finding treatment for this condition can be an easy, fast and very discreet process but seeking advice, especially by visiting a GP in person can be a much less pleasant experience.
That is why only a small proportion of men actually visited their GP to discuss the treatment, mostly referring to online sources of information. With the wide availability of data and treatment information available online, it is easy to get lost and be misinformed about what treatment is right.
Therefore, to help you bust any myths and misconceptions related to the ED condition and treatment, we have rounded up 7 of the most common myths to dispel them for good.
1 – Only older men get ED:
It is commonly assumed that ED conditions occur only among older men, which is untrue. This condition can occur among men of any age, ranging from their early 20s all the way to their 70s and above.
The reason for the popularity of this misconception is the fact that there is indeed a relationship between the risk of ED and age. Some research suggests that physiological changes that our bodies undergo as we age do increase the risk of ED condition occurring.
Furthermore, lifestyle variables and factors like smoking, drinking and being overweight also contribute to the chance of ED condition occurring.
2 – All ED treatments are identical:
Even though Erectile Treatments have similarities, they differ in various ways too. The most common erectile disfunction treatments like Viagra (or Sildenafil), Cialis (or Tadalafil), Viagra Connect and Spedra are all classified as PDE5 inhibitors drugs. The PDE5 enzyme is responsible for the restriction of blood flow that, in result, make the process of achieving and maintaining erection more difficult. Therefore, the PDE5 inhibitors that are contained in the main ingredient of those treatments help to prevent the blood vessels from narrowing down and therefore helping to achieve an erection as well as erection maintenance.
In terms of the differences in those treatments, they mostly vary depending on their activation time as well as the duration of the effects. For example, Viagra usually takes up to an hour to activate and remains in the blood flow for 6 hours while Cialis, an alternative PDE5 inhibitor, also takes up about an hour to activate but lasts for a significantly longer duration of 36 hours.
3 – Only psychological factors contribute to ED:
The Erectile Dysfunction condition is commonly caused by a multitude of physical variables and factors like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels as well as commonly caused by intake of some medications. However, in some cases, this condition could also be caused by psychological factors like depression, stress and anxiety or even a combination of both physical and psychological factors.
Therefore, considering the variety and diversity of factors that contribute to the ED condition, it is important that you seek advice from your GP regarding your condition as well as review your lifestyle to identify and potentially reduce some of these factors.
4 – ED can only be treated by a specialist:
Erectile dysfunction is a common condition that occurs in many men but is, thankfully, relatively easy to treat. While it is beneficial to ask for advice from a trusted professional like a Urologist or a GP, you do not need to have a face-to-face conversation regarding your ED condition. Here at Pharmica, you can get in touch with one of our expert pharmacists via a call, message or email to get quick and relevant advice on which treatment would be the most suitable for you. In addition, we also have a wealth of expertly written and reliable resources available like articles and guides that can provide you with more information for your treatment decision. As always, we offer fully confidential, discreet and private services so you can get your treatment in full confidence.
5 – My ED is not affected by my lifestyle:
Excessive overconsumption of alcohol, smoking, being overweight and other unhealthy lifestyle factors can contribute to ED condition. For example, smoking tobacco, which is a vasoconstrictor, can cause blood vessels to narrow, restricting the blood flow to the penis. Consequently, it is important to try and stop or at least reduce unhealthy habits in order to reduce the risk of ED and support your sexual health.
Furthermore, maintaining a healthy lifestyle that includes regular exercise as well as a varied and balanced diet can often help to reduce the risk of ED condition. In addition, regular physical activity can help to avoid the risk of obesity and weight gain, while also assisting with stress level reduction. Combining these lifestyle changes with effective erectile dysfunction treatments can be an optimal way to treat the ED condition.
6 – I can just use natural erection remedies to cure ED:
Many natural erection remedies like red ginseng, L-arginine and pomegranate juice claim that they can cure the ED condition. In reality, these claims often have very limited supporting research and usually are unfounded. Furthermore, these natural remedies can also cause unwanted side effects, especially if taken incorrectly.
Therefore, ED treatments should be the first-line therapy for treating the condition safely and cost-effectively.
7 – If ED treatment doesn’t work the first time, then it won’t ever work:
ED treatment medication is often very reliable. However, its efficacy is significantly affected and influenced by several notable factors that might lead you to thinking that those medications will not work for you in the future.
For example, consumption of alcohol can seriously affect your ability to get an erection while taking antidepressants can lower the levels of stimulations that you can experience. These factors are important and seriously affect the efficacy of ED medication like Viagra (Sildenafil) which require sexual arousal to work effectively.
Furthermore, it is also important to wait for the recommended amount of time in order for the erection medication to activate in your body. Therefore, if you take the ED medication too close to the intercourse, the key elements of the treatment might not activate in your system in time and therefore won’t take effect.
Finally, sexual arousal is also a very important factor. It is commonly believed that taking ED treatment medication will work without the need for sexual arousal which is a misconception. Sexual arousal is still very important to ensure the full effectiveness of the treatment.
