Erectile
Dysfunction — Impotence — Male Impotence
Medical Dictionary
For a man suffering from erectile dysfunction,
there’s rarely an easy cure. Oral medications
to treat it are just part of the story. Lifestyle
changes and several other non-drug treatments
are available as well. This medical dictionary
covers the terms used in the report, What
to do about Erectile Dysfunction, and includes
details on the causes of, treatments, and various
remedies for erectile dysfunction.
atherosclerosis: A disorder
that causes thickening and a loss of elasticity
of the artery walls. In addition to being an
important factor in heart disease, it is one
of the leading causes of erectile dysfunction.
benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH): An
enlargement of the prostate gland that obstructs
the flow of urine. This condition is most common
in men over 50. Its cause is unknown.
corpora cavernosa: Two columns
running the length of the penis that can fill
with blood and become rigid, producing an erection.
cyclic guanosine monophosphate: One
of several chemicals that helps cause an erection
by widening blood vessels in the penis to let
blood in.
detumescence: The softening
of an erection.
duplex Doppler ultrasound: A
diagnostic technique that uses sound waves. It
can reveal blood flow problems inside the penis
and is sometimes used to help diagnose the cause
of erectile dysfunction.
flaccid: Soft, not erect.
libido: Sexual desire.
MUSE: Medicated
urethral system for erection, a therapy that
involves using a device to insert a drug pellet
into the tip of the penis. The drug produces
an erection by widening the blood vessels that
lead to the corpora cavernosa.
nitric oxide: A chemical released
by the nerve endings in the penis when a man
is sexually stimulated. This chemical prompts
the release of other chemicals that dilate blood
vessels in the penis, causing an erection.
penile prosthesis: A rigid
or inflatable device that is surgically implanted
in the penis to make it erect.
perineum: The skin and tissue
between the scrotum and the anus.
Peyronie’s disease: A
disorder in which some of the tissue inside the
penis becomes scarred, causing the penis to bend
at an angle during an erection.
priapism: An erection that
lasts longer than three hours. Emergency medical
treatment is required to prevent permanent damage
to the penis.
prostatitis: An inflammation
of the prostate gland, sometimes caused by a
bacterial infection.
psychogenic erectile dysfunction: Difficulty
in getting or maintaining erections because of
a psychological cause, such as stress or depression.
pudendal nerve: The nerve that
carries sensation from the penis to the central
nervous system.
urethra: The channel in the
penis through which urine leaves the body.
vacuum erection devices: Various
manual or battery-operated pumps that a man can
use to draw blood into the penis to create an
erection.
vascular surgery: An operation
to improve blood flow to the penis, either by
repairing leaks in blood vessels or by rerouting
arteries to bypass blockages.
venous leak: A condition in
which, during an erection, blood seeps out of
the penis rather than remaining trapped within
it.
yohimbine: An extract of the bark
of a West African tree sometimes used in treating
erectile dysfunction. Yohimbine appears to increase
blood flow to the penis and prevent blood from
leaving it too quickly.
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