Help for men's most troubling health problems

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a difficult topic for men to discuss. Many men feel it’s a reflection of their masculinity. But the truth is, ED becomes increasingly more common as men age. At age 40, about 10 percent of men have ED and by age 70, that number rises to approximately 70 percent.

“In many cases, ED is caused by other conditions or diseases such as diabetes, heart disease or prior surgery or radiation to the pelvis area,” says Christopher Deibert, MD, urologist and director of the Men’s Health Program at Nebraska Medicine. “Diseases like diabetes and hypertension cause damage to the small blood vessels in the body and most vessels that go to the penis are very small. This damage is only partially reversible. Surgery or radiation can cause damage to these vessels as well.”

Many men feel uncomfortable with talking about problems like ED, notes Dr. Deibert. “But this is what we do every day. We will put you at ease and discuss your issues in a comfortable and private manner.”

The Men’s Health Program will get to the underlying reasons for your symptoms and prevent these symptoms from becoming bigger health issues in the future. “After we’ve done a complete evaluation and addressed any other underlying health issues, we will discuss potential lifestyle changes that can be made to improve your symptoms like quitting smoking, losing weight and exercise,” says Dr. Deibert. “We will typically recommend a multi-step approach including medications and lifestyle modifications as well as treatment of any underlying medical conditions.”

Approximately 70 percent of men will respond to oral medications in a class of drugs called phosphodia inhibitors (Viagra and Cialis). These drugs work by relaxing your muscles and increasing blood flow to the penis, making it easier to get an erection and maintain it.

Other options include a vacuum erectile device that slides over the penis. The device pulls air out of the cylinder, which helps pull blood into the penis. A suppository can be placed inside the penis to stimulate an erection or medication can be injected with a tiny needle into the penis. If none of these medical options are effective or they have stopped working, you may be a candidate for surgery. Surgery involves the placement of a prosthetic implant inside the penis that includes an activation pump that will produce an erection when activated.

“At our clinic, what we want men to understand is that getting medical help is not just about taking a pill and moving on,” says Dr. Deibert. It’s about finding out the underlying problems and trying to fix them so you can have better health over the long term.”