What are the main causes of erectile dysfunction? ED refers to not being able to hold, maintain, or form a penile erection. Sometimes, a person may feel unable to maintain the erection firm enough to have sex. The condition erectile dysfunction (impotence) is a serious concern that can be devastating for a male’s personal life and psychological health.
Apart from being unable to enjoy sex, men start to feel self-conscious and go through various psychological effects such as losing confidence. What’s more, it can be devastating to experience erectile dysfunction in a relationship as it can leave you and your partner unsatisfied.
How Does an Erection Work?
When sexual arousal occurs, the nerves in the body release chemicals that increase the blood flow to the penis. The blood then flows into the two hollow chambers of the penis. The spongy tissues that make up the hollow chambers trap the blood in the penis and cause a firm erection.
Similarly, when a man reaches climax, another set of nerve signals instructs the muscular tissues to contract in the penis. Hence, it causes a firm blood circulation which causes the erection. Moreover, you might be aware that when there is no sexual arousal, the penis appears limp and soft. Further, the size of the penis can vary due to many factors, including cold, warmth, or worry. It depends on the blood circulation that takes place in the penis.
What are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction (ED)?
The main symptom of ED is that a male might not be able to get an erection or maintain it firm enough for sex. Further, there are some other symptoms that may hint towards ED:
- Loss of sexual desires
- Less interest in sexual activity
- Premature ejaculation
- Delayed ejaculation
- Erection problems that you may think link with your other health conditions such as heart disease or diabetes
Main Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Prostate Diseases
Prostate cancer doesn’t directly cause erectile dysfunction. In fact, the treatments that help with removing prostate cancer, such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and so on, can cause erectile dysfunction. Treating benign conditions such as any non-cancerous prostate disease can also possibly cause ED.
Psychological Issues
In case of lack of any anatomical deformity, the causes of ED can be purely psychological. This is because a man might have experienced ED at some point in life and failed to maintain an erection. It is also a condition, i.e., primary ED. Here are some psychological factors that affect a man’s erection and cause ED.
- Severe Anxiety
- Severe Depression
- Guilt
- Fear of Intimacy
Most of the ED cases are secondary, which refers to problematic erections. In reality, certain common psychological factors may cause ED, such as emotional stress, work stress, body fatigue, anxiety, etc. Additionally, there can be an overlap of several factors which may cause a persistent condition of ED.
For example, obesity affects blood circulation, which can cause erectile dysfunction and the inability to maintain an erection. On the other hand, the person who is obese may also be suffering from low self-esteem, which may impact erectile function (i.e., psychosocial cause).
(Source)
Other Factors and Causes of ED
While psychological conditions and states affect a man’s erectile function, various other reasons can cause temporary or persistent ED conditions. Certain health conditions can alter the way a man’s penis might function. These can be some of the major factors that contribute to ED condition:
- Diabetes
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Obesity
- Metabolic Disorders
- Sclerosis (multiple)
- Surgical Implications
- Hormonal Disorders
- Radiation Therapies
- Smoking/Substance Abuse
- Alcoholism
- Blood Vessels Disorder
Moreover, certain prescription drugs can cause ED due to their effect on blood circulation, blood vessels, heart rate, and more. These drugs might be treatment options for various medical issues, including diabetes and heart disorders. However, consult your urologist or general healthcare provider before making serious assumptions about your erectile function.
Ways to Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
While there are many risk factors associated with erectile dysfunction, it might also occur due to aging as the body weakens over time. Therefore, you should know some of the best preventative measures to avoid experiencing ED. Here’s what you can do as part of your daily life:
- Regular exercise
- Reduce stress through talking, walking, and other minimal effort activities
- Consult the best doctors to handle health conditions that might link with erectile function disorders (ED)
- Avoid smoking/alcohol/substance abuse
- Take help and therapies for mental issues such as anxiety, depression, stress disorders, etc.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction: Conclusion
Do you often or occasionally experience erectile dysfunction? If so, visit Fifth Avenue Urology and meet with a top urologist who specialized in ED. They can help you with treatment and care, as well as provide you the opportunity to learn about your urological health.
Call us at 212-675-3186 to schedule an appointment with an expert urologist at Fifth Avenue Urology today.
Reference Links
https://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/ss/erectile-dysfunction
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776
https://www.urologyhealth.org/urology-a-z/e/erectile-dysfunction-(ed)