Erectile Dysfunction: symptoms, causes & treatment in Nigeria
Also known as weak erection, impotence.
This page is general health information, not a diagnosis. Always consult a licensed clinician about your own health.
Overview
Erectile dysfunction is persistent difficulty achieving or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. Beyond the distress it causes, it is often an early warning of blood-vessel disease — the same process behind heart attacks — or of diabetes, so it deserves a proper medical check rather than quiet self-medication with unregulated "manpower" products.
Symptoms
Difficulty achieving an erection
Erections that do not last long enough for sex
Reduced morning erections
Reduced sexual desire in some men
Anxiety or avoidance around intimacy
Causes & risk factors
Blood-vessel disease from hypertension, diabetes or high cholesterol
Smoking and heavy alcohol use
Stress, anxiety and relationship strain
Low testosterone
Some medicines, including certain BP and depression treatments
Treatment & self-care
A doctor checks blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol and sometimes hormones — treating these often improves erections — and can prescribe effective erection tablets where safe, with counselling for the psychological component. Exercise, weight loss, stopping smoking and moderating alcohol genuinely help. Avoid unregulated aphrodisiacs and street "manpower" mixtures, which can be dangerous, especially with heart conditions.
See a doctor urgently if
ED persisting beyond a few weeks
ED with known hypertension, diabetes or heart disease
Chest pain or breathlessness on exertion (heart check first)
An erection lasting more than four hours after any medication — emergency
Frequently asked questions
What are the first signs of Erectile Dysfunction?
Early signs often include difficulty achieving an erection, erections that do not last long enough for sex, reduced morning erections. Symptoms vary from person to person, so a proper assessment by a doctor is the only way to be sure.
Can Erectile Dysfunction be treated?
A doctor checks blood pressure, sugar, cholesterol and sometimes hormones — treating these often improves erections — and can prescribe effective erection tablets where safe, with counselling for the psychological component. Exercise, weight loss, stopping smoking and moderating alcohol genuinely help. Avoid unregulated aphrodisiacs and street "manpower" mixtures, which can be dangerous, especially with heart conditions.
When should I see a doctor about Erectile Dysfunction?
See a doctor promptly if you notice: ed persisting beyond a few weeks; ed with known hypertension, diabetes or heart disease; chest pain or breathlessness on exertion (heart check first); an erection lasting more than four hours after any medication — emergency.