Erectile Dysfunction Causes

ED or erectile dysfunction occurs when the penis cannot get hard enough to allow a man to have full sexual intercourse. This happens when not enough blood reaches the penis or if blood does not stay there long enough for a satisfactory amount of time. The causes of erectile dysfunction are complex as obtaining an erection involves various mental and bodily processes. When we think about sex and are sexually stimulated the body receives the message via nerves in the spinal cord and genitals and responds by pumping extra blood to the penis making it hard.

Erectile problems are common, and can be short term or long term. Persistent erectile dysfunction can lead to an unsatisfactory sexual relationship and may be a sign of a bigger health problem. Common physical causes of ED include vascular conditions (diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and kidney failure), post-operative results (following prostate surgery), and other illnesses such as prostate cancer, nerve damage, and genital trauma. Some medicines prescribe to treat these other conditions can also have the effect of creating the erectile deficit. Common psychological causes include stress, performance anxiety or other emotional problems.

If you suffer from ED the chances are it will not go away by itself, and you will need some form of treatment. You should visit your doctor as soon as you can to discuss your options. Your doctor may want to do a number of things such as: review any medications you are currently taking, monitor your blood pressure, monitor sugar blood levels, cholesterol levels, and check your levels of testosterone. These checks will help the doctor eliminate any underlying cause of ED.

The good news for most men is that ED can be managed and there are a good number of treatments available which may help.

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