Revolutionary solution for treating ED - Vertica®Revolutionary solution for treating ED - Vertica®C
It is the most abundant protein in the body, accounting for about one-third of its protein composition. Collagen is one of the major building blocks of the skin, bones, muscles, tendons, ligaments, cartilage and connective tissue. Collagen fibers are also found in the tunica albuginea, the fibrous tissue enveloping the penile erectile bodies, which helps achieving the necessary rigidity required for penetration. However, as we age, the body produces less and lower-quality collagen. One of the most visible signs of collagen degradation in the body is less firm and supple facial skin. This process likewise occurs in the tunica albuginea: with age, the number of collagen fibers decreases, the collagen structure changes, resulting in decreased tissue elasticity. The tunica albuginea thus can no longer stretch as before during sexual arousal. Consequently, it cannot effectively prevent blood leaving the erectile bodies, which can lead to erectile dysfunction.
D
The term Delayed Ejaculation (DE) encompasses disorders ranging from increased latency to ejaculation to absent ejaculation, including DE. Although there is no clear consensus on what constitutes a reasonable time frame for reaching orgasm, men with latencies beyond 20–25 minutes are assumed to suffer from DE. Reasons include inhibited sexual desire, medical problems such as diabetes (due to neural damage), bladder problems or retrograde ejaculation following prostate gland operation (a situation where an orgasm is experienced), using certain medications (including antidepressants, anti-hypertension drugs and alpha blockers), exaggerated masturbation, age-related decrease in penile sensitivity as well as high stress levels. Treatment will depend on the cause, and usually psycho-sexual therapy coupled with medications may help significantly.
E
A physiological phenomenon in which the flaccid penis becomes firm, engorged, and enlarged, causing it to stand up and away from the body. Most men have an erection angle between 30° and 120°. An erection is a consequence of a complex physiological process, involving timing and coordination between the vascular system and psychological, neurological and hormonal mechanisms. It occurs when sexual stimulation resulting from touch or thought, passes through like an electrical signal from the brain onto nerve sets along the spinal cord into the penis. That triggers the release of a molecule named Nitric Oxide (NO), which causes the cavernous muscles to relax and blood vessels to expand. Consequently, the blood flow to the penis increases, the cavernosa chambers fill up with blood and the penis gets rigid and erect. At the same time, a chain of biochemical reactions activates an enzyme called PDE5, which is active in the reverse stage, in which the penis turns flaccid again.
H
A hydrocele is the accumulation of fluids around one or two testicles causing scrotal swelling. Hydroceles are usually congenital though they may form later on in life (usually after 40). They generally don’t pose a threat to the testicles, are painless and tend to disappear without treatment after six months. However, significant scrotal swelling might interfere with the daily activities and with sexual intercourse. An acquired hydrocele usually develops when the channel through which the testicles descend had not closed properly and fluids enter, or if the channel reopens. However, hydroceles can rarely result from inflammation, infection (epididymitis), injury or testicular torsion (a dangerous condition which can lead to tissue necrosis) and therefore it should be diagnosed. A hydrocele usually only needs surgery if it causes significant discomfort or it is suspected to lead to a hernia.
I
In the past, it was customary to use interchangeably the terms ‘impotence’ and ‘sexual dysfunction’ to describe the various problems related to each of the phases of the male sexual activity, including sexual desire/libido, sexual arousal/erection, orgasm and ejaculation (and not merely to describe erectile dysfunction as is commonly thought). However, nowadays, the term impotence is hardly used in medical terminology due to its negative connotations.
L
This term refers to our sex drive, or in other words, the desire to have sexual intercourse. Libido is an individual matter and its levels vary greatly among different people. It is affected by various factors such as age, the level of sex hormones the body produces (in men – the level of testosterone), stress levels, tiredness, underlying diseases, the use of medications, the nature of sexual relationships, and the personal beliefs and attitude towards sex.
M
Formally known as Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT), it is considered a universal human male trait that happens to men, boys, babies and even to male fetuses in utero. It constitutes a normal and healthy physiological response that reflects an intact neuro-vascular penile function. Morning erections are scientifically defined as involuntary sleep-related erections, because they consist of 3-5 spontaneous erections that occur throughout the night (each lasting for about 25-35 minutes), with the last one being the famous “morning wood”. NPTs are not necessarily associated with erotic dreams, pre-sleep sexual activity or to having a full bladder. Rather, they are related to physiological, neurological and hormonal processes that take place during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, in which the brain inhibits the activity of the neurotransmitter adrenalin – which is associated with preventing erections. And if there’s nothing to suppress erections, they simply occur spontaneously.
N
This is one of the few molecules in the body with a role as a signaling molecule in many organ tissues. It likewise has vasodilating effects, including in the penis, by relaxing the smooth muscle in the endothelium layer of blood vessels. This is done via triggering the formation of a molecule named cGMP within smooth muscle cells which causes blood vessels to expand. Currently there exist a family of prescription medications for the treatment of erectile dysfunction called ‘PDE5 Inhibitors’ which inhibit the enzyme that degrades cGMP, thereby producing continuous relaxation of penile muscle tissue so as to allow an enhanced, prolonged erection.
P
A class of drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED), taken 1-2 hours prior to sexual intercourse. These medications are regarded as one of the most effective forms of ED treatment, with a therapeutic efficacy rate of 70%. The pills increase blood flow to the penis by affecting a natural chemical (called cGMP) involved in dilating blood vessels during sexual arousal. The pills can treat ED caused by various underlying medical conditions, including when nerves and arterial blood vessels leading to the penis are not fully functional. The drugs have different absorption mechanisms and duration of action: two of the drugs exert their effect for approximately 8-12 hours whilst the effect of the third medication lasts up to 36 hours. It’s likewise possible to take one of the pills daily, on the lowest dose. It is noteworthy that the drugs will not trigger an erection absent sexual stimulation is absent.
R
The proper function of the erectile mechanism is dependent upon intact nerve conduction from the brain through the spinal cord into the penis. However, any problem along the aforementioned rout can result in difficulties attaining and maintaining an erection. Despite that fact however, some erections, referred to as ‘reflexive erections’, can be generated solely by the spinal cord without brain involvement. Studies have discovered an erection center located between the T12 and S3 vertebrae, which enables achieving a reflexive erection by direct physical stimulation of the penis. In this manner even men with severe or complete spinal cord injury can achieve an erection, as long as the neural circuit in the spinal erection center remains intact.
S
This is a qualified counsellor, doctor or healthcare professional (such as a social worker, a psychologist or a psychotherapist with an MA degree) who has completed extra clinical training in helping people coping with sexual dysfunction or otherwise problems with sexual intimacy. Sex therapy can help both individuals and couples. The most common problems which sex therapy focuses on are: sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction, lack of libido, immature or delayed ejaculation, problems with orgasm, performance anxiety, an inability to create intimacy, issues pertaining to sexual and gender identity, sex addiction and more. In Israel there are 1 organizations which train and qualify sex therapists: the Israeli Society for Sexual Therapy (ISST) and 1 scientific society related to sexual medicine; the Israeli Society for Sexual Medicine (ILSSM). The latter qualifies physicians who wish to treat sexual issues from medical point of view. These organizations provide extensive and thorough training courses which abide by internationally accepted standards and practices.
T
An elastic fibrous layer of connective tissue which gives the penis its cylindrical shape and its ability to change size during sexual arousal. It is likewise an essential structure responsible for penile rigidity during erection. How does it work? The penile shaft is composed of two erectile bodies called the ‘corpora cavernosa’, which are composed of numerus blood vessels. When the penis is erect, the muscle tissue in those blood vessels relaxes, and the corpora cavernosa fills with blood. Consequently, the blood pressure within them rises and the penis becomes stiff and erect. The tunica albuginea, which envelopes the erectile bodies, stretches during sexual arousal while constricting the penile erection veins (called emissary veins) and preventing blood from leaving the erectile bodies. This is how it sustains the erect state.
U
A physician who have specialized in diseases of the urinary tract (in both men and women) and of the male reproductive tract, after completing their general degree in medicine. Urology combines the management of medical conditions such as tumors of the urinairy and sexual organs (prostate, bladder etc),urinary-tract and kidney infections, urine incontinence, urinations complaints (urgency and frequency), urinary problems due to obstructive causes such as kidney stones or growths, male sexual dysfunction, including erectile dysfunction and lack of libido, infections in the male genital system, testicular problems (including hydrocele and varicocele), benign prostatic hyperplasia and more. Urology interfaces with other fields of medicine such as oncology, nephrology, gynecology, pediatric surgery, colon and rectal surgery, gastroenterology, endocrinology and more. Some urologists specialize in general urology and some have subspecialties such as: male sexual dysfunction, male infertility, neuro-urology (focusing on problems in the urinary system derived from the nervous system), pediatric urology, urogynecology (conditions involving tumors in the urinary system, testicles and prostate glands) and more.
V
This is a medical device which works on the principle of manually creating a vacuum to achieve an erection. It is used for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in patients who did not respond well enough to drug therapy or those who cannot initiate drug therapy due to health problems.
Treatment is conducted by inserting the penis into a plastic tube. A pump then sucks out the air from the tube so as to create a vacuum, which causes blood to be drawn into the penis and an erection. A soft rubber band is then placed at the base of the penis to maintain the erection after the plastic tube is taken off. This treatment is effective for about 75% of men, regardless of the cause of ED, particularly for those who are still able to achieve partial erections.
However, vacuum devices may not be used in cases of severe blood coagulation disorders or a significant penile curvature.