Glossary of Erectile Dysfunction Terms

• andropause: male menopause, characterized by a drop in testosterone levels. Sometimes associated with erectile dysfunction.

• antihypertensives: medication used to treat high blood pressure or hypertension. Some of these can affect the blood supply to the penis and cause ED.

 

• anxiety: feelings of stress which can cause or accompany erectile dysfunction. "Performance anxiety" refers specifically to anxiety related to one's sexual capabilities.

 

• atherosclerosis: hardening of the arteries, which in some cases can hamper blood circulation in the penis, causing or contributing to ED.

• cardiovascular disease: men with erectile dysfunction are more likely to have heart disease than those that do not have ED. Since erections require strong blood flow to the penis, ED can often be a sign of heart disease or related problems.

• cGMP (cyclic guanosine monophosphate): a substance that can cause an erection by relaxing arteries and muscles in the penis, improving blood flow.

• chemotherapy: a treatment for cancer that uses toxic drugs. The treatment can cause erectile dysfunction.

• Cialis (tadalafil): an oral ED drug that works by enhancing the flow of blood to the penis. Cialis is also called the weekend pill because its effects last 36 hours as compared to about 4 hours for Viagra and Levitra.

• corpora cavernosa: chambers in the penis that fill with blood, which causes an erection.

 

• depression: a psychological disorder that can either be a cause or a side effect of erectile dysfunction.

• detumescence: the loss or softening of an erection.

• diabetes: a chronic disease characterized by high blood sugar that is also known to cause erectile dysfunction in some men.

 

• duplex ultrasound: a diagnostic ED test that is used to determine whether erectile dysfunction is caused by atherosclerosis, tissue scarring, or a venous leak.

 

• dynamic infusion cavernosometry: a diagnostic ED test used to determine the severity of a venous leak.

 

• erectile dysfunction: also known as male impotence, erectile dysfunction is the inability of a man to achieve an erection, or maintain an erection long enough to complete having sex.

• exercise: since exercise can help you maintain a healthy weight, lower your blood pressure and strengthen your heart, many doctors recommend exercising to avoid erectile dysfunction

• flushing: a common, relatively minor side effect experienced by some men after taking an oral erectile dysfunction drug.

 

• high blood pressure: also known as hypertension, high blood pressure is an established cause of erectile dysfunction.

• impotence: in men, the inability to achieve an erection or maintain an erection long enough to complete having sex. Also known as erectile dysfunction or ED.

• Levitra (vardenafil): an oral medication used to treat erectile dysfunction. Levitra works by increasing the flow of blood into the penis.

• libido: sexual drive or desire. Can sometimes be a factor in ED.

• MUSE (Medicated Urethral System for Erection): an ED treatment in which a drug pellet is inserted into the urethra, producing an erection.

• muscle ache: one of the more commonly reported side effects of certain erectile dysfunction drugs.

• nitrate: a compound contained in certain drugs, including heart medications like nitroglycerin. Men should not take any drug containing nitrates while also using a PDE5 inhibitor like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra.

• nitric oxide: a chemical released in the penis during sexual stimulation, which causes blood vessels to dilate, leading to an erection.

• nocturnal penile tumescence test: a test that monitors nighttime erections. The test is useful in determining whether the cause of erectile dysfunction is physical or psychological.

 

• obesity: being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle both increase one's risk for erectile dysfunction.

• PDE5 (Phosphodiesterase Type 5) inhibitor: an erectile dysfunction drug that inhibits absorption of the PDE5 enzyme, which helps improve blood flow to the penis. Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are all PDE5 inhibitors.

• penile biothesiometry: a diagnostic ED test that uses electromagnetic vibration to measure penile sensitivity and nerve function.

 

• penile implant: an inflatable prosthetic device surgically implanted into the penis, which enables a man to achieve an erection whenever he wants.

• penile injection therapy: an erectile dysfunction treatment in which an erection is achieved by injecting a single drug or a combination of drugs into the penis.

• peripheral vascular disease: disease of the circulatory system outside the heart region. Can cause erectile dysfunction.

 

• Peyronie's Disease: an inflammatory condition in which scarring of the erectile tissue causes an unnatural curvature of the penis. It can lead to or be an underlying cause of erectile dysfunction.

• physical impotence: as opposed to psychogenic impotence, physical impotence is when erectile dysfunction is caused by some organic condition (heart disease, diabetes, etc.).

 

• priapism: a potentially painful and dangerous condition in which an erection lasts for four or more hours. It can be caused by certain medications, including (in rare cases) oral erectile dysfunction drugs.

 

• prostatectomy: surgery performed to remove the prostate gland in men who have prostate cancer. The procedure frequently causes some level of erectile dysfunction.

• psychogenic impotence: a condition that originates in the mind. In the case of erectile dysfunction, the condition can be caused by psychological factors like depression or stress.

• radiation therapy: an x-ray treatment for different forms of cancer. When used to treat prostate cancer, radiation therapy can cause erectile dysfunction.

• sex therapy: a form of counseling that can be an effective treatment for erectile dysfunction, particularly when the cause of the condition is psychological in nature.

 

• sildenafil citrate (Viagra): the first FDA approved oral treatment for erectile dysfunction. Viagra works by increasing blood flow to the penis.

 

• smoking: smoking increases a man's risk of developing atherosclerosis, which in turn can cause erectile dysfunction.

 

• tadalafil (Cialis): an oral ED drug that works by enhancing the flow of blood to the penis. Cialis is also called the weekend pill because its effects last 36 hours as compared to about 4 hours for Viagra and Levitra.

• tension ring: part of a vacuum constriction device that helps maintain an erection by preventing blood from flowing out of the penis.

• testosterone replacement therapy: therapy that can be used as a treatment for erectile dysfunction, in cases where a hormonal imbalance is the cause of the condition.

 

• vacuum constriction device: a mechanical vacuum pump used as a treatment for ED. The pump draws blood into the penis, causing it to become erect.

 

• vardenafil (Levitra): an oral medication used to treat erectile dysfunction that works by increasing the flow of blood into the penis.

 

• vascular disease: disease of the blood vessels that can cause erectile dysfunction.

 

• vascular reconstructive surgery: a relatively uncommon invasive procedure that can be used to improve the blood supply to the penis.

 

• vasoactive injection: a diagnostic ED test used to evaluate whether inadequate blood flow is the cause of erectile dysfunction. The test involves injecting solutions into the penis, and then taking x-rays of blood vessels and measuring penile pressure.

 

• venous leak: a condition in which the veins in the penis allow blood to escape during an erection, which causes the erection to dissipate.

• Viagra (sildenafil citrate): the first FDA approved oral treatment for erectile dysfunction. Viagra increases blood flow to the penis.

• yohimbine: a bark extract sometimes used as an alternative treatment for erectile dysfunction.