Up-to-date on erectile dysfunction and treatment

Erection is a haemodynamic event that involves the central nervous system and local factors and is the recurrent or persistent inability to achieve and or maintain an erection to allow satisfactory intercourse. The ED is a disease of great social impact: it is estimated that in Italy, 11-13% of men, or about 3 million are affected in part by ED. Main risk factors are: age, education level, anxiety, reactive depression, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure; disorders (hepatic failure, chronic renal failure, obesity, dyslipidemia); hormonal disorders (hypogonadism, hyperprolactinemia, hypo/hyperthyroidism); neuropathies (Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, degenerative diseases); urologic surgery, colorectal and vascular. Regarding therapy first and most important form of treatment for a patient suffering from erectile dysfunction is to identify and possibly modify or remove all hazardous conditions for sexual health. First line treatments are selective inhibitors of 5-phosphodiesterase; second-line treatments essentially include intracavernous injection of vasoactive substances and third line treatments include revascularization of the penis and prostesis implants.