Most Common Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
A healthy, thriving sex life offers so many benefits. It can help you feel more relaxed and at ease, can help boost your mood, and can even do away with some aches and pains, including headaches. Regular sex, if that’s something you want, is a very important part of your health and well-being. Therefore, not being able to perform when and if you want to can take its toll. Not only do you lose a great stress relief option, but there’s also a lot of shame and embarrassment surrounding performance issues.
However, you should never be ashamed. Performance issues or erectile dysfunction are typically health issues and should be taken seriously. You wouldn’t feel bad about not being able to walk if you broke a bone. While the systems that result in an erection are more delicate than a bone, the concept is the same. Many of the issues that impact performance are medical in nature, meaning that treating your ED as a medical condition is the best way to move forward and reclaim your sex life.
If you have been having issues with performance, then the most important step you are going to take towards fixing the issue is to understand the cause. From there, you can then take steps towards alleviating it, or finally taking steps forward to help you achieve an erection again.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Sexual health is greatly tied to our physical health and to our confidence. We are naturally sexual beings, and not being able to perform when and if we want to can take a massive toll on one’s mental health and confidence. Unfortunately, both men and women experience performance issues. With men, the common complaint is erectile dysfunction. There are many reasons why you may be suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED), and knowing the cause is essential when it comes to effectively treating and managing your condition.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Erectile Dysfunction?
From physical to hormonal and even psychological damage, there are many reasons why you may be experiencing ED. The best way to make an effective treatment plan to help manage your ED is to understand what is causing it, so talk to your doctor. They will help you determine which of the most common issues is affecting you.
The most common causes of ED include:
1. Advancing Age
Age is one of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction. As we get older, blood vessels contract, aches and pains distract, and testosterone levels drop. All of these result in fewer erections as you get older. If you don’t have a problem with your lower libido and sex drive, then there is no issue. The only time there is an issue is if you feel aroused and want to get erect but cannot perform. If you are happy with your current situation, then you can continue as you are.
2. Pre-existing Medical Conditions
If your medical history includes issues like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or even neurological conditions like multiple sclerosis, then these may be the root cause of your ED. There are several issues behind these conditions that can result in ED becoming a symptom. For example, those with heart problems may end up with damaged blood vessels. If those blood vessels typically supply the penis, you’ll find it harder to get erect. Parkinson’s or other neurological disorders can also cause damage, only this time to your nerves. If those nerves link up to your penis, then once again, you have issues with getting or maintaining an erection.
Hormonal imbalances are another common issue. If you have low levels of testosterone, then you’ll naturally get erect less often. Therefore, increasing testosterone can help treat your ED. The other issues, of course, require more nuance. In some cases, treating the cause can naturally improve your performance; in others, it may be too late, and the damage persists.
3. Certain Types of Medication
ED is also one of the common side effects of certain types of medication. Antidepressants, for example, are a prime candidate. The two most common inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), both cause ED.
Other common medications include high blood pressure medication and hormone therapy. Even pain medication like nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can also cause ED. Always check the medication you are currently taking to see if ED is a common side effect. If it is, then you can either wait until your treatment course is over or get in touch with your medical professionals to see if there’s a suitable alternative available.
4. Lifestyle Factors That Can Result in Erectile Dysfunction
There are several lifestyle factors that can cause erectile dysfunction, and if these are the causes, then your best bet is to stop or greatly reduce your habits. Smoking, for example, can result in ED. The same applies to excessive alcohol use, obesity, or other eating disorders. These issues put the body under a lot of strain, either because it has to work through the substances you have taken in or because you have pushed your systems to the brink.
5. Psychological Factors That Inhibit Erectile Performance
Mental health can also be a cause of your erectile dysfunction. Anxiety, stress, and, of course, depression are three of the most common issues that can impact performance. Performance anxiety on its own can inhibit your ability to perform the way you want to when you want to. In some cases, medication can help, though, as mentioned above, medication like antidepressants can also cause ED. Adopting a multi-pronged treatment option that takes you out of your stressful situation and includes both medication and therapy is your best bet.
6. Physical Trauma
Physical trauma is the final common reason why you may have an erectile disorder. If there’s damage to the blood vessels that supply blood to your penis, then naturally, you will experience performance issues. The damage can be focused entirely on the penis; for example, if you broke it or had severe bruising during sex, then you will experience ED. The same can also apply if there’s damage to the pelvic area. If you broke your hip, for example, you may notice a drop in performance.
What to Keep in Mind with Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction can occur for a wide range of reasons, and the sad fact is it’s entirely possible that medical experts are simply unable to find the cause. In this case, your only option is to treat the symptoms. Do you know that ED can be treated, even if the approach towards performance isn’t what you were hoping for? Stem cell research, for example, has shown promising results in improving ED symptoms by helping the body recover from more physical traumas. If your issue is psychological in nature, however, then even stem cells won’t be effective. Go in with an open mind towards your recovery, and you’ll be able to improve your condition.
Treatment Options for Erectile Dysfunction
A few of the most popular ED treatments today include:
1. Treating the Cause
The single best way to treat ED is to understand the underlying cause. If your ED is a side effect of another disease, like cancer or cardiovascular issues, for example, working on treating those causes will naturally help you recover your performance abilities. In some cases, your only option is to wait. This also occurs if you are on a certain medication that is causing your ED, but that medication is essential. Chemotherapy, for example, can cause ED, but you won’t want to get off chemotherapy until you are in remission.
2. Stem Cell Therapy
One of the hottest treatments creating a buzz in the medical world and treatment for ED is stem cells. Using stem cells for erectile dysfunction is a promising new treatment that involves injecting stem cells into the impacted area (your pelvis or penis). This treatment then works to improve the endothelial function (control over vascular contraction and relaxation). Essentially, it works to help repair nerve and muscle damage in the area, making it an innovative option for those dealing with physical trauma-related ED.
3. ED Medication
There is ED medication. Vardenafil, Levitra – both are the same product, so don’t get confused. Vardenafil is the generic name, and Levitra is the brand name. They are completely the same, so if you’re looking for ways to save, opt for the generic option. These products work to increase blood flow. When blood flows easier, you can naturally become erect without the need for uppers like Viagra. To use, take the pill orally around an hour beforehand. It will typically take between half an hour to one hour to come into effect and then last around five hours.
4. Use Penile Implants
If none of the treatments work, then you may want to investigate a penile implant. These penile implants allow you to become erect and achieve penetration. They are seen as a last resort, but if this is the route you go down, do know you will be able to get erect and be able to penetrate successfully, which can greatly improve your sex life and satisfaction.