Rockwood Clinic Adds ED Therapy to the List of Services

History and Values

Rockwood Clinic from Spokane welcomes you 7 days a week in modern premises equipped with cutting-edge technologies and a high-performance technical platform. Established in 1930, the completely rebuilt new establishment opened in April 1998. More than 350 practitioners work there consulting around 170 000 patients annually. More than 20 consulting firms covering all specialties allow us to offer you optimal and local care.

We offer the full range of diagnostic services and minor urological surgical services to the private sector. At Rockwood, we render an organized and accessible service in a friendly environment. The services offered are minimally invasive and adapted to a minor surgery room in a private practice. The practice environment is inviting to foster a positive experience. In addition, minor urological surgeries requiring general or spinal anesthesia are performed in a private hospital, accredited with honor.

Why Choose Skyline Urology for ED Treatment?

As soon as you arrive at Rockwood you will be looked after by our professional and welcoming team. Throughout the meeting, you will see the excellence of our service, the rigor of our procedures and the ethics of our work. We believe that our artistic and personalized approach contributes to the quality of our treatments in medicine. Please, check more about our services by visiting website urologyspecialtygroup.com.

Each patient is unique, which is why our doctors will take the necessary time to listen to your requests in order to provide you with high-end care tailored to your needs. Passionate and dedicated to providing treatments at the forefront of technology, our team is committed to providing each client with an incomparable experience.

Our doctors believe in an approach of listening, collaboration and complicity with their patients so that they are at the center of the treatment plan. Being a Rockwood customer means choosing the quality of care, having access to the best technologies on the market and obtaining natural and personalized results. Our team is made up of professional experts. They will take the time necessary to listen to your needs and answer all of your questions and concerns.

Diagnostics of Erectile Dysfunction

We are talking about erectile dysfunction when a man is repeatedly unable to get or preserve erection during sex. On the other hand, if it happens in isolation or occasionally, do not worry – it is normal and happens to most men at some point in their life. 

What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction?

Persistent inability to get an erection:

• Recurrent inability to maintain an erection until orgasm.
• Persistent inability to penetrate his / her partner.

What are the causes of erectile dysfunction?

Several factors can cause erection problems:

• Psychological origin: for example, anxiety, stress or relationship problems.
• Vascular origin: for example, narrowing of blood vessels, poor lifestyle or disease. Must see: smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol, etc.
• Neurological origin: more precisely, damage to the fine endings of the nervous system typically caused by diabetes, multiple sclerosis, stroke, herniated disc, etc.
• Hormonal origin: for example, too low testosterone.
• Drug source: for example, side effects of antidepressants, steroids, recreational drugs, etc.
• Origin by damage to the erector nerves: direct or indirect sequelae of surgery (e.g., radical prostatectomy) or radiotherapy for prostate cancer.

How Can Rockwood Clinic’s General Practitioners and Urologists Be of Help?

Erectile dysfunction is the most frequent reason for consultation in the field of male sexual difficulties. Although the general practitioner is the first point of contact, the role of the urologist can also be important.

What does the urologist treat?

A urologist treats diseases related to the organs and genitourinary tract (kidney, urethra, bladder, testicles, prostate, etc.). From diagnosis to treatment of conditions, its role ranges from clinical examination to performing tests that can determine the nature of the condition. Depending on the results, he can make a diagnosis, prescribe an appropriate medical or surgical treatment in consultation with the patient. If necessary, he will perform surgeries and follow up on patients until their recovery.

A sex therapist can also help

A general practitioner may prefer to prescribe a session with a sex therapist, especially if he is in front of a young patient (about 30 years old), without any particular health problem. Because in this case, erectile dysfunctions are generally of psychological origin.

Should we consult him for erectile problems?

Faced with an indication as widespread as erectile dysfunction, its recourse is only justified after consultation with the general practitioner. The latter can refer the patient to this specialist for additional examinations or in the event of therapeutic failure of drug treatments.

The purpose of consulting this specialist is to find the origin of the patient’s erectile disorders (organic or psychological). To do this, the health professional asks a series of questions and examines in particular the genital areas, blood pressure as well as the osteo-tendinous and skin-plantar reflexes.

A blood test can show the presence of excessive triglycerides or cholesterol, or on the contrary an abnormal drop in testosterone levels. More rarely, a plethysmography may be performed in a hospital environment. This examination makes it possible to observe the occurrence of unconscious nocturnal erections and thus to rule out an organic origin of the disorders.

Why Is It Important to See a Doctor When in Doubt?

There are several factors that can cause a man to suffer from erectile dysfunction and it can be very difficult to identify them on his own. In turn, a doctor will be able to review a medical file, have a physical examination (ex: blood pressure, examination of genitals, heart pulse, sugar level, blood cholesterol level, etc.), carry out a neurological examination and review the consumption of substances likely to cause erectile problems (e.g.: tobacco, drugs, medication, steroids, alcohol, etc.).

Adopting healthy lifestyle habits, such as eating well, participating in frequent physical activity, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption, can also help you stay healthy and avoid the development of diseases that can cause erection problems. If physical health is not the issue, seeing a psychologist or sex therapist may be what you need. In all cases, your doctor will guide you to the treatment that is most appropriate for your situation.

What Are Medical Treatments?

Patients with erectile dysfunction rely on their treatment in order to maintain their sexual function. There are several medical treatments.

• Oral treatments of PDE5 inhibitors (Viagra, Cialis, Levitra or Staxyn).
• Intra-urethral suppositories (Muse)
• Intra-cavernous injections of vasodilators (Trimix with papaverine).

These treatments are generally effective, are reasonably safe, and may cause mild or minor side-effects. However, they do not change the cause of the erection mechanism. These treatments are generally taken on demand, before intercourse, and their effect is mainly limited in time. Although daily administration of Cialis 5 mg instead of on-demand treatment allows for a more spontaneous sex life, it does not yet change the cause of the erectile dysfunction erection process.

What Are Other Ways of Treatment?

Penile implant for erectile dysfunction

A penile implant is a medical device that is implanted in the cavernous bodies (erectile bodies of the penis). It is therefore not visible on the outside, but is integrated into the male genitalia. The components of the implant are inert biomaterials, known to be generally well accepted by the human body, such as pacemakers, breast prostheses and testicular prostheses.

A penile implant is an effective treatment option for men with symptoms of severe and irreversible erectile dysfunction. The penile implant can help men who have difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, as well as those who cannot achieve an erection at all. It can also help men whose erections are not firm enough for sexual activity.

There are 3 types of implants possible:

• Three-part inflatable penile implant
• Two-part inflatable penile implant
• Malleable penile implant (semi-rigid or “concealable”)

Penile injection of platelet rich plasma

This is a new treatment to improve the stiffness of an erection or improve erectile dysfunction. The penile injection of platelet rich plasma for erectile dysfunction is a simple, painless injection that increases blood flow to the penis.

Rockwood offers an innovative treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) by intracavernous and spongy infiltration of platelet-rich plasma. It is designed to improve the sexual performance of men and we have certified physicians to offer this technique. Penile infiltration is a non-surgical option to strengthen erections.

Men who want to improve the quality of their erection. This treatment is often intended for men from their forties who are concerned about their sexual health. Men who have difficulty obtaining an erection that is firm enough to be satisfactory. Patients who have had success with Viagra and Cialis may no longer need these drugs or will require a lower dose. These patients get all the benefits of improved erectile function without unwanted side effects, the risk of drug interactions, and minimal or no recovery period.

However, patients who have less satisfactory erections with Viagra and Cialis or with intracavernous injections such as Caverject may get firmer erections. Some patients are not treated with the injection protocol because another treatment might be more appropriate. Patients also reported an increase in the girth and length of their penis. The results can vary on average from 10% to 20%. Circumference is gained first, followed by length.

Cavernous body shock wave therapy for erectile dysfunction

Shockwave therapy for erectile dysfunction is an adaptation of technology that has been around for many years in different areas of medicine. In urology, high intensity devices are used for the fragmentation of kidney stones. In orthopedics, lower intensity devices are used for the fragmentation of calcifications in certain tendons.

Shock waves are acoustic pulses, or even vibrations of energy, that penetrate the tissues of the cavernous bodies of the penis. This creates microtraumas that will cause factors to repair and build new blood vessels. The erection is therefore improved thanks to better vascularity. The medical objective of this treatment for men with erectile dysfunction is to provide a long-lasting healing effect, in order to resume spontaneous sexual activity in normal intimacy. Shock wave therapy involves applying, in multiple treatments, a probe that emits low intensity shock waves to at least 5 or 6 parts of the cavernous body of the penis. The treatment is painless, short-lived and without analgesia.

When Erectile Dysfunction Hides More Serious Illnesses

The urologist can also during this consultation detect serious pathologies that could explain the erectile dysfunction.

• Cardiovascular illnesses

Cardiovascular diseases (and their treatment) can lead to erectile dysfunction, on the contrary erectile dysfunction can alert the patient and the doctor to possible cardiovascular complications. A not insignificant part of these sexual breakdowns would have originated from diseases of the blood vessels. The most common, atherosclerosis is the deposit of fatty plaques that can partially or totally obstruct blood flow. When these vessels are those which aim to irrigate the cavernous bodies during erection… This is where the problems manifest themselves.

• Diabetes

It is also known that diabetes is the main organic cause of erectile dysfunction. One in three diabetics is affected between their 20s and 60s.

• Nervous system disorders

More rarely, erectile dysfunction can be the result of damage to the nervous system.

• Prostate hyperplasia

The urinary disorders of benign prostatic hyperplasia are often associated with erectile dysfunction and ejaculation disorders. This link can be explained by a dysfunction of the smooth muscle cell which plays a very important role in erection. Indeed, for the penis to be erect, it requires relaxation of the smooth musculature of the cavernous arteries, leading to a massive influx of blood into the cavernous bodies.

• Age-related androgenic deficit (AAD)

It is a deficiency of testosterone which can cause, among other things, a decrease in interest in sexuality, a lack of energy and erectile dysfunction.

• Neurological disease
• Parkinson disease;
• Multiple sclerosis;
• Epilepsy;
• Dementia;
• Sequelae of spinal cord injury.

 

• Psychological disorders
• Depression;
• Addiction to alcohol or drugs.

Preventive Screening for Male Urological Problems by Rockwood Clinic Specialists

We offer our male patients a screening, preventive medicine and follow-up service in one visit:

• Screening and treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia
• Screening and treatment for overactive bladder
• Screening and treatment for testosterone deficiency
• Screening and treatment for erectile dysfunction
• Prostate cancer screening

Screening process

Three questionnaires must be completed beforehand.

1. A questionnaire on the symptoms of benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) to assess the severity of the symptoms. It also allows you to compare symptoms from year to year.
2. A questionnaire on sexual functions, in order to assess erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation.
3. A questionnaire on testosterone deficiency.

Testosterone deficiency is a common disorder in men over 45 that can have physical, sexual and psychological effects. Understanding what testosterone deficiency is can help you cope with the impact of testosterone on a daily basis.

In addition, urine flow measurement, bladder ultrasound, post-voiding residual volume measurement and laboratory tests are scheduled during the appointment.