Patient acceptance of these devices is very high, with nearly 100% of the patients expressing satisfaction. Part of this enthusiasm is related to the failure of other therapies and the highly motivated patient population. Call a health professional if erection problems occur with: Does Health Insurance Cover Sex Therapy? "Of course, not every bicycle rider develops erectile dysfunction, just as not every smoker develops lung cancer," says Taylor. "But a standard seat is a risk factor." An erection problem is the inability to get or maintain an erection that is firm enough for a man to have satisfactory intercourse. You may be unable to get an erection at all, or you may lose the erection during intercourse before you are ready. If the condition persists, the medical term is erectile dysfunction. The rich database of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study has allowed important insights to be gained into a variety of risk factors for erectile dysfunction, both psychosocial and physical. A submissive personality was associated with a higher risk of erectile dysfunction. Obesity status was also associated with the condition (p = 0.006), with baseline obesity predicting a higher risk regardless of follow-up weight loss. Smoking and alcohol consumption were not found to be causally associated with the incidence of erectile dysfunction. The risk of the condition was higher among men with lower education levels, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension. "We as physicians should be asking about, and men should be reporting to their physicians, symptoms of ED, so it can be considered as we work to modify their risk -- treat blood pressure, cholesterol more aggressively, advise healthy lifestyle changes like exercise and healthy diet," he said. This work was supported by National Institutes of Health Grant DK21723 (to J.B.) and the University of Washington Cardiovascular Pathology Training Grant NIH HL-07312 (to A.B.). CYP4503A4 inhibitors (eg, erythromycin, ketoconazole, itraconazole, indinavir, ritonavir) may significantly increase levels; potentiates hypotensive effects of nitrates and alpha-blockers (with exception of tamsulosin when given as 0.4 mg qd); concurrent alcohol consumption may increase orthostatic hypotension risk "Take better care of yourself. Make sure you're not obese, eat well, exercise, and if you have diabetes or hypertension, make sure they're well-controlled," advised Lipshultz, who added that by addressing lifestyle factors, you may not need medication to treat erectile dysfunction. Buy viagra Canada "A lot of men don't have physicians," Thompson explained. "They may not know what their blood pressure is or their lipid profiles, or they may be smokers, and they may never have been counseled to stop smoking or to reduce their weight. A close relative with heart disease Thyroid function test: One of the thyroid hormones' functions is to regulate the production of sex hormones, and a deficiency in these hormones may contribute to or cause ED. Myth #2: Erectile dysfunction should just be accepted as a natural part of the aging process. Your doctor will obtain your medical history, examine you and test your semen at least twice. A semen analysis can tell your doctor about your sperm count and sperm quality. These are important parts of fertility. More testing may be needed, depending on the results of this first evaluation. Precautions