Viagra (Sildenafil Citrate)

In men suffering from diabetes, the tendency to develop erectile dysfunction occurs 10-15 years earlier than in the rest of the men. With age, in men with diabetes, the erectile dysfunction becomes more common. After fifty years of age, 50 to 60% of men with this disease are likely to have erectile problems. At the age of 70, the likelihood of problems with erectile function reaches 95%.

Why men with diabetes suffer from erectile dysfunction?

Causes of erectile dysfunction in diabetic men are complex and include damage of nerves and blood vessels, as well as violation of muscular functions.

In order to achieve an erection, men should have healthy blood vessels, nerves, the necessary level of male hormones and a desire to receive sexual stimulation. Diabetes affects the blood vessels and nerve endings responsible for maintaining an erection. Therefore, even if the level of male hormones is sufficient and a man is sexually aroused, he may not be able to achieve a firm erection.

What are the erectile dysfunction treatment options available for men with diabetes?

Men with diabetes who have difficulty achieving and / or maintaining an erection can take ED drugs such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. However, since diabetics often have heart problems, these drugs may demonstrate a risk of incompatibility with some heart medications. That is why it is recommended to talk to a health care provider to determine the optimal treatment.

Additional therapeutic procedures that might be of male diabetics interest include intracavernosal injections, the use of external vacuum devices, intra-urethral therapy, and sex therapy.

Sex therapy is a short form of consultation with a doctor-sexologist. Usually one session lasts for one hour and is appointed once in a week.

During the appointment, a sexologist gives to the patients a "homework", for example, like:

• read books about sexuality
• practice skills of sexual communication
• do special touch exercises to eliminate the awkwardness that may occur during sex

Sex therapy can benefit in the erectile dysfunction treatment in men, if they have normal nocturnal erections, if the results of their medical examination and blood tests are normal and they are in good physical shape. Sex therapy also helps in cases when erectile dysfunction is caused by stress, such as anxiety due to work, anxiety due to finances, conflicts in relationships, low sexual activity. In these cases, the sex therapy may be the best solution.

Sometimes a consultation with a sexologist may be useful to men who are going to have medical or surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction. The doctor can help a couple choose optimal treatment or improve their sexual communication and sexual techniques. As for a single man the consultation will help find the best words to tell his partner about the pills, injections or vacuum devices that are used in treatment of erectile dysfunction.