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Erectile dysfunction is the bane of any sexually active man. It can cause great distress to them and their partners, severely limiting the sexual component of a relationship.
Erectile dysfunction, being a highly prevalent disease, can be classified under different subtypes. This is due to the multifactorial tendencies of this type of sexual dysfunction.
One specific condition to be talked about in this article is venous leakage-related erectile dysfunction.
Also known as venogenic erectile dysfunction or penile venous insufficiency, a venous leakage is one of the underlying reasons behind soft erections.
The majority of affected men are either born with it or acquire it during their formative years. If left untreated, this ailment can persist for the rest of a man’s life.
However—with the right treatment—erectile dysfunction caused by venous leakage is treatable. Here’s more information about venous leakage and the treatment options you can get.
What is Venous Leakage?
A venous leakage is a disorder wherein your veins become unable to constrict adequately, resulting in a blood leakage that prevents erections.
Your erections are induced by the presence of blood in the spongy penile tissues. But if the blood vessels are unable to constrict and trap the blood, an erection won’t happen or fade away immediately.
Venogenic erectile dysfunction, therefore, is caused by a blood retention insufficiency induced by a venous leakage.
According to a study, 80% of men with vasculogenic impotence (venogenic ED) report failure to store blood in their corpora cavernosa, the chamber in the penis where blood is stored.
Symptoms of Venous Leakage
Venous leakage is characterized by a few prominent symptoms, namely:
- Inability to achieve a fully erect penis under any circumstance
- No early morning erections or nocturnal erections
- Soft erections which do not support penetration
- Shortening or bending of your penis (Peyronie’s disease)
- Soft glans in the penis during erection
Furthermore, there’s a key difference between ED caused by arterial insufficiency and venous leak erectile dysfunction.
ED by blood flow insufficiency causes a lack of blood to enter the penis, while a venous leakage prevents blood from staying in the erectile chambers. However, both can occur at the same time.
If you experience erections that fade away soon or soft erections, consult your doctor for further evaluation.
Causes of Venous Leakage
Erectile dysfunction, which affects over 150 million men over the world, is caused by a myriad of factors. As such, treating erectile dysfunction is highly dependent on the cause.
To diagnose venous leakage, doctors look for the following symptoms:
- Diabetes
- Vascular disease
- Neuro deficiencies
- Stress or anxiety
- Trauma
- Testosterone deficiency
- Side effects of certain medications
The risk of venous leakage increases with pre-existing health conditions. Remember, you can avoid most health conditions by following a healthy diet and exercising regularly.
Similarly, stress and psychological issues may also affect your sex life, causing psychogenic erectile dysfunction. A psychotherapist may be helpful if you suffer from such cases.
How to Cure Venous Leakage
There are many ways you can manage and treat symptoms of venous leakage.
A few treatment options that doctors may recommend to you, according to your symptoms, include the following:
1. Oral ED Medication
ED medications like Viagra, Levitra, and Stendra work even if you are afflicted with venous leakage. PDE5 medications work by widening your blood vessels, allowing blood to flow in faster than it leaks out.
It’s important to note that erections due to ED pills are merely temporary and can cause significant side effects. This is especially true in men with severe venous leakage.
Additionally, these medications are not suitable for men with low blood pressure or men who are on nitrate medications. So be sure to check in with a local erectile dysfunction specialist before trying out prescription oral medications.
2. Acoustic Wave Therapy
Shockwave therapy or acoustic wave therapy, a new and promising treatment for ED, can also help venous leakage by enabling the restoration and regeneration of blood vessels.
With the help of low-intensity acoustic waves, your body is stimulated to develop and repair new blood vessels in the targeted areas.
With a success percentage of 82% and long-lasting results for up to 2 years, shockwave therapy is one of the most effective ED treatments available.
3. Ablation
Ablation is another way to cure venous leakage. It’s a process that utilizes multiple catheters that are inserted inside a vein and heated or frozen up. This procedure patches up abnormal pathways and helps restore erectile function.
According to a study, ablation via Polidocanol, a local anesthetic sclerosing agent, was reported to have short-term success in more than 80% of the 96 patients with venous leaks.
4. Venous Ligation Surgery
Vein ligation surgery remains the most popular and effective method of intervention for venogenic dysfunction.
While it’s well-received by a handful of patients, ligation surgery also comes with a 9% to 43% chance of penile shortening.
Oftentimes, side effects may also become present, including:
- Hypoaesthesia
- Penile deviation
- Wound infection
- Priapism
With that in mind, make sure you know the risks and benefits before opting for any surgery. You may ask your doctor for an evaluation of whether you’re eligible for this treatment.
5. Vacuum Erectile Devices
A vacuum erectile device is an apparatus that acts like a vacuum, pulling blood into the penis and creating a manual erection.
Blood leakages halt due to the presence of a rubber ring, known as a constricting ring, placed at the bottom of the penis.
VEDs have almost no significant risks, except for patients on blood thinners, and a success percentage of 90%.
However, these devices may be cumbersome to use and would need a thorough briefing from a medical professional before use.
6. Penile Injections
Penile injections are a form of treatment that shoots vasodilator medications into the shaft of the penis, aiding men in attaining an erection.
While this injection isn’t as painful as it sounds, it’s best performed under a doctor’s supervision. Speak to your healthcare practitioner before opting for any treatment.
Consult Cincinnati’s Top Men’s Clinic for a Venous Leakage Diagnosis and Treatment Options
Vascular diseases are the leading cause of erectile dysfunction (ED) in men, with 50% to 70% of cases being affected by it. And venous leak is one of these vascular diseases.
Fortunately, patients have a plethora of treatment options to choose from, including surgery, ablation, vacuum devices, and a painless shockwave therapy.
Need further assistance? Contact Proactive Men’s Medical Center in Cincinnati for professional diagnosis and treatment information.
You can overcome sexual health conditions with various other methods and men’s health treatments, which includes ED therapy, premature ejaculation therapy, acoustic wave therapy, testosterone treatment, and much more.
Don’t miss out on any opportunities you can find to get the proper treatment and achieve a happy and fulfilling sex life. Give our team a call today to schedule your appointment.
