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Erectile Dysfunction Causes
So, before we discuss erectile dysfunction causes, there are some things we will consider, such as what is erectile dysfunction and how an erection usually works.
If you are suffering from issues in your sexual life and have a problem sustaining an erection, it is quite likely that you are suffering from erectile dysfunction. There are many erectile dysfunction causes which can result in this condition.
The right approach to solving any problem requires a thorough understanding of the process and then the reasons behind it.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition when a man fails to keep up an erection hard enough to have sex, or more specifically, intercourse. Many also refer to it as impotence; however, this term is currently seldom used.
First of all, you do not have erectile dysfunction if you failed to get erect once or twice during sex. For many men, it is common to experience such an event if they are stressed, fatigued, or are running on very little sleep.
Your concern should be if it happens frequently. A few episodes do not merit a full examination.
How Does an Erection work?
A man experiences an erection when the blood flows to his penis as a result of sexual stimulation or direct contact with the penis.
When a man is sexually aroused, the muscles in his penis relax. It allows the blood to flow to the penile arteries and fill up the two chambers in the penis. As the flow to the penis increases, it becomes more erect. Afterward, when the muscles in the penis contract, the accumulated blood moves out of the penis through penile veins.
The question now becomes how you can tell if you have erectile dysfunction or not. You may have such a condition if you have trouble getting your penis erect, keeping it erect during sex, or have reduced interest in having sex regularly.
If you have erectile dysfunction, you are also likely to experience premature ejaculation, delayed ejaculation, and even the inability to reach an orgasm.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Now that you understand what erectile dysfunction is, let’s move on to what causes erectile dysfunction. Put simply, three key elements affect erectile function; namely blood flow, hormones, and nerve supply. These factors may also be manipulated by other factors. Here is a detailed look into the erectile dysfunction causes.
Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
If you have developed erectile dysfunction and are experiencing persistent erection issues, there may be a medical condition causing it. This is why it is important to see a doctor at your earliest convenience if you are suffering from such an issue. Your physician can help diagnose and solve such problems.
The following issues might be the reason for you not being able to maintain an erection:
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Heart issues
- Hypertension
- Cholesterol issues
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Hormonal disorder of thyroid gland or testosterone deficiency
- Too much alcohol consumption
- Medications for prostate disease
- Post-surgery complications
- Multiple sclerosis
- Substance abuse including cocaine use
- Radiation therapy
- Physical injury
- Anatomical issues of the penis
If you are taking medications such as hypertension (high blood pressure) drugs, diuretics, sleeping pills, heart medications, anxiety meds, antidepressants, cancer drugs, hormonal medication, or anticholinergics, you may also suffer from erection issues.
In more than 90 percent of the cases, the reason for erectile dysfunction is usually a physical one.
Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
In rarer cases, a man might just have psyched himself out. The issue may be purely psychological and not a physical one. These issues can be due to some form of guilt, low self-esteem, depression, severe anxiety, and fear of intimacy.
With such issues, it is important to first rule out a physical cause with the help of your doctor and then move on to a psychologist before trying drug therapy. There has been clear evidence of people being able to perform sexually again after solving any lingering mental health issues.
Do Not Listen To Any BS!
It might have happened that you shared your issue with a friend and they gave you unproven causes or weird ways to deal with ED. If people are telling you that riding a bicycle has caused ED, it is definitely not true. Research shows that there is no link between riding a bicycle and erectile dysfunction!
How Erectile Dysfunction is Improved?
If you get diagnosed with erectile dysfunction, your doctor may recommend one of these three routes:
Medications
You may be given drugs that can help increase blood flow to your penis such as avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), and Alprostadil (Caverject, Edex, MUSE).
A doctor may also suggest testosterone therapy depending on your levels of the hormone. The key thing to remember here is that these drugs may have unwanted side effects. All of these are FDA approved therapies despite having troubling side effects.
Counseling
If the issue is psychological, the doctor may talk to you about the underlying problem. The psychologist can discuss things like how you feel about sex, how you might be having any subconscious conflicts, and even what might be bothering you generally in life.
Vacuum Pumps
Though not very traditional, this treatment for erectile dysfunction might be used to stimulate the penis. Using a vacuum, the blood is drawn to the penis, causing a person to get an erection. These pumps also have an elastic ring that a man can wear on his penis. This elastic ring helps maintain the erection for up to half an hour.
Natural Help for Erectile Dysfunction
If you do not like these standard therapies and want to adopt a more organic route, there are some things that can help, along with natural supplements for erectile dysfunction.
Along with natural supplements for erectile dysfunction one popular choice is a topical cream such as Arginine Cream or Arginine Circulation Cream from Whole Family Products. Others such as folate, vitamin C, vitamin D, Maca root, Ashwagandha, and zinc might help. You should also look into a natural remedy for erectile dysfunction. This can include simply leading a healthier life, drinking and smoking less, sleeping more, and maintaining a healthier weight. Also, a useful product like Chrysin Max may be recommended in the case when symptoms point to hormonal imbalance such as between estradiol and testosterone.