Medical Dictionary: Erectile Dysfunction

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.