Erectile Dysfunction, or impotence as it is otherwise known, is the inability in males to achieve or sustain an erection so that sexual intercourse (or other sexual activity) can take place. It is said to affect one in every ten men and the causes can be either physical or psychological.

Erectile dysfunction is a very common sexual problem and nearly half of all males over forty years of age will experience the condition at some stage of their lives. It usually becomes more common in both occurrences and severity as a person gets older. There are many causes for impotence and it is estimated that in three quarters of the cases it is a physical problem affecting the blood supply.

Some physical conditions that may cause erectile dysfunction include diabetes, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, hormone imbalances, or surgery in the pelvic area. Psychological issues that could have an effect include feelings of anxiety, guilt or depression, stress or issues with a partner.

In almost 95% of impotence cases, a suitable treatment is found to cure the problem. These can include therapy as well as medicinal. There are also many “self-help” treatments that can help with the issue. Quitting smoking, taking moderate exercise regularly, eating a balanced diet, drinking alcohol in moderation and reducing stress are all methods of combating the issue.

Understanding Erectile Dysfunction

A sore or hole in the lining of an organ is known as an ulcer.  A stomach ulcer is known as a gastric ulcer while a duodenal ulcer is an ulcer in the duodenum which is part of the small intestine. Duodenal ulcers occur more frequently in men and usually between the ages of 20-45, while stomach ulcers occur more often than not in people over the age of 50.

The stomach is protected from acid by a lining of mucus but if the lining is damaged then the acid can come into contact with the stomach or intestine wall, causing an ulcer.

Symptoms of an ulcer include abdominal pain, feeling sick after eating, loss of appetite, weight loss, or difficulty swallowing.  More serious symptoms include black or tar like stools, severe stomach pain, or vomiting blood.

Stomach Ulcers

Ulcers can be caused by bacteria known as Helicobacter Pylori and also use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as aspirin.  Other causes of ulcers are smoking and drinking alcohol and it is also thought to run in some families.  Stress can aggravate an ulcer as it causes the stomach to produce more acid.

Diagnosis of an ulcer is confirmed through a procedure known as an endoscopy.  This is done in a hospital and it involves a thin tube being passed down to the stomach through the mouth and gullet.  This can show the doctor whether an ulcer is present.

Treatment of an ulcer depends on whether the cause was a bacterium or by using NSAIDs. Proton pump inhibitors are prescribed for ulcers which have not been caused by the H pylori bacteria and they work by reducing the amount of acid in the stomach.  For ulcers caused by H pylori bacteria, treatment is usually a combination of proton pump inhibitors and two antibiotics.

Skin Ulcers

Syphilis is most often a sexually transmitted disease, although it can be passed on through injecting drugs into a vein, from an infected pregnant woman to the unborn infant (congenital syphilis), or through blood transfusions.  It cannot be passed through casual person to person contact, i.e. touching, sharing toilet facilities or sharing things such as cutlery, etc.

Syphilis can be quite dangerous as it can lie in the body undetected and then resurface many years later affecting organs such as the eyes, brain, heart or nervous system.

Syphilis

Primary syphilis starts with painless sores on the skin which are very contagious.  These sores are known as chancres and can if another person comes into contact with these typically during sexual contact, then they will more than likely contract the syphilis infection.

Typically, between two to ten weeks later, more symptoms will appear and this is known as secondary syphilis.  These symptoms include tiredness, headaches, sore throat and skin rashes.  These symptoms will then disappear but the infection can lie dormant for many years and can then return causing organ damage and even organ failure.

Primary syphilis can be quite mild and therefore the patient may not know they even have the disease before passing it on.  It can be treated with antibiotics.

Abstaining from sex is the only definite way to avoid catching the syphilis infection.  However condoms do offer protection.  Sex toys should never be shared.