HOW TO DEAL WITH ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION IN A RELATIONSHIP
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequently referred to as the “couple’s disease,” which is very fitting because it affects more than just one partner. Stress on a couple’s sex life can spill over into other aspects of your relationship. It’s important to talk with your partner if he is experiencing ED.
Sometimes men are embarrassed to talk about their ED or to see a doctor for it. Instead, they become distant from their partners. This can leave you feeling like he isn’t interested in you or isn’t attracted to you anymore—this is rarely the problem.
CAUSES OF ED
ED can be associated with another health condition like heart disease or diabetes. Other times, it can be a side effect of a treatment for something like prostate cancer. Some men also experience ED after a sexual encounter in which they don’t perform to their “normal level.” This can lead to anxiety overall getting and maintaining erections.
Regardless of the cause, men experiencing ED should seek care from a medical professional.
“Putting yourself in your partner’s shoes is a great first step to tackling ED as a couple,” says James Hotaling, MD, a urologist at University of Utah Health. “Many men with ED feel they’ve lost self-confidence inside and outside of the bedroom, which can lead to anxiety and depression. Acknowledge your partner’s struggle and be supportive.”
Oral medications
such as sildenafil, vardenafil, or tadalafil are common first therapies and they work in about 60% of men.
Vacuum pump
A penile vacuum pump may be a good option if medications have failed or cause side effects. A vacuum pump goes over the penis and, when pumped, pulls blood into the penis. You then place a special ring over the base of the penis to keep it erect.
Injection therapy
Injection therapy involves injecting medicine directly into the side of your penis with a very small needle each time you want an erection. About 70% of men are satisfied with this treatment option.
When you are ready to find treatment for ED, let your partner know that you will support them.
MEDICATIONS
- Antidepressants
- Blood pressure medications
- Testosterone blockers
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when you can’t get and maintain a satisfying erection for sex. ED affects more than 30 million men in the United States. It is a topic that several men still find hard to talk about.