Erectile dysfunction requires a "hardness" approach; a level 4 hardness is the ideal state.
**Article 25**
**Erectile dysfunction seeks the "hard truth"**
**Case Study**
**Name: Sun Yao (pseudonym), 38 years old**
**Region: Harbin, Heilongjiang Province**
**Occupation: Senior Executive at an Insurance Company**
Sun Yao, a successful businessman, recently divorced his wife. The reason for the divorce was that his wife felt they hadn't had marital relations for two years after seven years of marriage. Even when they were intimate, he was limp and unresponsive, while she suspected him of having an affair due to his frequent visits to entertainment venues. Sun Yao helplessly explained that he still had feelings for his wife; after all, they had been together for seven years, and the hardships they faced in the early years were still vivid in his memory. He genuinely wanted his wife to enjoy sex, but he was simply unable to perform sexually. He was "willing but unable," so he resorted to frequenting nightclubs and spending lavishly to impress women, claiming that his interactions with those women were merely for show and that nothing more. He explained this to his wife, but she didn't believe him, as she was still in her prime and couldn't possibly have a problem in that area.
Dr. Li Hongjun, Chief Physician of the Department of Andrology at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, explains: While erectile dysfunction is often considered a problem for the elderly, clinically, it's actually more common in young adults, particularly those in the age group of Mr. Sun. Many factors can cause erectile dysfunction, such as the hardships of working life, frequent visits to entertainment venues, and misconceptions about the condition. For example, many men make preliminary assessments of their sexual function, blindly believing that a smaller penis, a wife's inability to reach orgasm, or premature ejaculation constitute erectile dysfunction. So, what constitutes erectile dysfunction?
In fact, penis size and duration of sexual intercourse are not the criteria for diagnosing erectile dysfunction. As early as the 22nd European Urological Congress in 2007, urologists from around the world reached a consensus: good erectile rigidity is the most important factor affecting the quality of sexual life. The medical community classifies male erectile rigidity into four levels, with levels 1-3 considered erectile dysfunction, and only level 4 rigidity considered a normal erection.
Grade 1: Penis enlarged but not hard indicates severe erectile dysfunction; Grade 2: Penis erection is somewhat hard but not enough to penetrate the vagina, indicating moderate erectile dysfunction; Grade 3: Penis erection can penetrate the vagina but is not firm, indicating mild erectile dysfunction; Grade 4: Penis erection is firm, indicating normal erectile function.
To put it figuratively: Level 1 hardness is like soft tofu, the penis swells but can't get up; Level 2 is like a pickled cucumber, there is an erection but the hardness is not enough to enter the woman's vagina; Level 3 is like a ripe banana, it can be done, but it's not satisfactory; Level 4 hardness is like a fresh cucumber, the most ideal state.
The three levels of penile erection hardness are the most misleading. On the surface, they don't prevent men from completing sexual intercourse, ejaculating, or reaching orgasm, but they easily make men forget that they can get harder and lead their partners to even greater orgasms. Some men actually achieve a level four erection but feel it's not enough; in this case, they need to adjust their mindset.
To achieve a firm erection, it's essential to raise health awareness and maintain basic physical health through moderate exercise and a regular sleep schedule. Occasional erectile dysfunction should not be ignored; early self-adjustment and, if necessary, scientific treatment should be sought. Clinically, previous treatments for erectile dysfunction focused on achieving a full erection for sexual intercourse. However, it's now recognized that erectile rigidity is significantly correlated with a patient's self-esteem, confidence, and sexual satisfaction. Only by achieving optimal erectile rigidity can a patient's quality of life be thoroughly improved, leading to a comprehensive recovery from erectile dysfunction to psychosocial function.
It is important to note that current research has found that chronic diseases such as kidney disease, arteriosclerosis, and other vascular diseases often lead to erectile dysfunction, which is highly correlated with diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes.