Up to 45% of men between 40 and 70 years

The Erectile dysfunction It is the persistent inability to achieve or maintain a erection enough for satisfactory sexual relationship. Affects around 10% of men and can reach the 45% Among men between 40 and 70 years.

This dysfunction could be an early manifestation of cardiovascular disease, according to the Spanish Society of Vascular and Interventionist Radiology (Servei @Serveisoc).

The doctor Juanma Pulido It clarifies that the causes “are diverse due to the physiological complexity of erection, which involves vascular, neurological, hormonal and psychological factors” and recalls the close relationship with the cardiovascular disease and its Risk factors (age, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, etc.).

That is why it is convenient to consult soon: the dysfunction “could be an early manifestation” of vascular problems and, although sometimes it is mild, “it affects physical and psychological health and has an important impact on the quality of life, both of those who suffer and of their partners and families,” says Dr. Pulido.

Dysfunction treatment

To date, the treatment of erectile dysfunction has gone through different phases, since psychological approaches to medical and surgical treatments. “Initially, the approach focused on purely psychological therapies (anxiety and stress …) and couple (relationship), but during the last two decades the Introduction of phosphodiesterase inhibitors-5 He has marked a significant advance in the medical treatment of erectile dysfunction, ”explains Dr. Juanma Pulido.

The expert, however, clarifies that Up to 50% of patients may experience suboptimal response rates, So there are also other treatment alternatives, including vasodilators injections, surgery to repair blood vessels, surgical ligation of the dorsal vein of the penis, endovascular treatments or prostheses implant.

In arterial problems it is done Arteriography and stenosis or occlusions are treated through Angioplasty I Stents. In venous leaks, tests (ultrasound, Cavernosography-CTdynamic cavernosography) allow to confirm the diagnosis “that allow observing venous leaks and confirming the diagnosis to be able to correctly plan the treatment, which consists of the embolization or occlusion of leaks.”

These procedures, being minimally invasivereduce risks and pain and shorten the recovery. “Also these treatments They can become cheaper and in some cases more effective than other surgical options, for example Venous Light; And in young patients it can be a previous step to have to implement a prosthesis”