Erectile Dysfunction Specialist
Scott I Zeitlin, MD
Male Infertility Specialist & Men's Sexual Health Physician located in Century City, CA, Santa Monica, CA, & Tarzana, CA
Erectile dysfunction (ED) may be a common problem, but that doesn’t make it any easier for the people who experience it. If your inability to achieve or maintain an erection has affected your sex life, treatment can help. At Los Angeles Infertility and Prostatitis, top-rated urologist and urologic surgeon Scott Zeitlin, MD, can pinpoint the cause of your ED and provides personalized treatment plans. If necessary, he can place penile implants. To schedule an appointment, call one of Dr. Zeitlin’s Los Angeles area offices in Century City or Santa Monica and Tarzana, California.
Erectile Dysfunction Q&A
What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?
From time to time, just about every man has difficulty achieving an erection or loses his erection during sex. These occasional performance issues may be frustrating or embarrassing, but they don’t mean you have ED.
You may have ED if you have erectile problems often and over a long enough period of time, and if they interfere with your sex life. Untreated ED can harm your self-esteem, reduce your interest in sex, and cause problems with your relationship.
Don’t be ashamed to seek treatment if you think you have ED. It’s a common problem and can affect men of all ages. Dr. Zeitlin has treated many cases of ED. His practice is a comfortable, nonjudgmental environment, where he works closely with you to find a solution.
What causes ED?
Erections are complicated. When you experience something arousing, your body responds, including your brain, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and hormones. The causes of ED may be mental, physical, or both.
ED may happen because you have performance anxiety, relationship difficulties, or other fears around sex. However, the mental causes of ED aren’t always sexual. If you’re depressed or under a lot of stress, you may have a low sex drive as a result.
You may experience ED as the result of another health condition. Conditions that affect blood flow, including high blood pressure and diabetes, commonly interfere with erections. They may sometimes result from urologic conditions, including Peyronie’s disease, which causes a buildup of scar tissue in the penis.
ED is a common symptom of low testosterone, including age-related drops in hormone production.
ED may be a result of your lifestyle. Tobacco, alcohol, and drug use may interfere with erections. Some medications also cause ED as a side effect.
What are the treatment options for erectile dysfunction?
Dr. Zeitlin performs a thorough examination to determine the cause of your ED. If you come in for an appointment, it may be helpful if you keep track of when your erectile problems started or if they’re worse in certain situations.
In many cases, ED improves when you address the underlying factors. That may mean drinking less, managing chronic conditions like high blood pressure, or switching to an alternative medication that doesn’t cause ED as a side effect.
Depending on your situation, Dr. Zeitlin may also prescribe medication that you take in preparation for sex. These medications, such as Viagra® (sildenafil citrate), Cialis® (tadalafil), Levitra (vardenafil), and Stendra (avanafil) allow you to get an erection in response to stimulation.
In certain cases, Dr. Zeitlin may recommend surgery to place a penile implant. Penile implants help men who haven’t responded to other forms of ED treatment achieve an erection and enjoy sex.
For help managing ED, call to schedule an appointment at one of Dr. Zeitlin’s offices.