Phosphodiesterase type 5
is abbreviated as PDE 5. PDE 5 is an enzyme that breaks
down cGMP. cGMP causes the smooth muscles in the arterial
walls of the penis to relax. The relaxation of the arterial
walls allows blood flow to cause an erection. Once PDE
5 breaks down cGMP, the arterial walls stop relaxing
and the man no longer maintains an erection. Under normal
circumstances, only after orgasm do the arterial walls
begin to relax. After prostate cancer treatments, however,
men may experience impotence which is the inability
to maintain a satisfactory erection.
|
