Erectile dysfunction (ED) can have many causes, such as other medical conditions, certain medications and stress related or psychological issues.
To fully understand more about the possible causes of erectile dysfunction
(ED) it is of use to understand how erections occur.
Erections
When a man becomes sexually agitated (aroused), his brain sends
signals to the nerves in his penis. The nerves increase the blood flow to the
penis, causing the tissue to expand and harden. For that reason, anything that hampers
with the nervous system or the blood circulation could lead to erectile dysfunction.
Something that affects libido or the level of sexual desire can also cause
ED because a reduced libido makes it more complicated for the brain to activate
an erection. Psychological conditions, such as depression can reduce libido, as
can changes in hormone levels or the chemicals that are produced by the body.
Check this out for your ED problem.
Check this out for your ED problem.
Physical causes
There are four main kinds of health conditions that can cause physical
problems resulting in erectile dysfunction. These are:
- vasculogenic – conditions that affect the flow of blood to your penis
- neurogenic – conditions that affect your nervous system, which is made up of your brain, nerves and spinal cord
- hormonal – conditions that affect your hormone levels
- anatomical – conditions that affect the physical structure of your penis
Vasculogenic conditions
The following are examples of Vasculogenic that can cause ED:
- Cardiovascular disease – a disease of the heart or blood vessels, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
- High blood pressure (hypertension)
- Diabetes – a condition that is caused by too much sugar (glucose) in the blood. This can affect both the blood supply and the nerve endings in your penis, so it is also a neurogenic condition.
Erectile dysfunction is strongly associated with cardiovascular disease. For this reason, it
may be one of the first causes that your GP considers when making your
diagnosis and planning your treatment.
Neurogenic conditions
The following are examples of Neurogenic conditions that can cause ED:
- multiple sclerosis – a condition that affects the body's actions and activities, such as movement and balance
- Parkinson’s disease – a condition that affects the way that the brain coordinates body movements, including walking, talking and writing
- a spinal injury or disorder
- a stroke – a serious medical condition that occurs when the blood supply to the brain is interrupted
Hormonal conditions
The following are examples of Hormonal conditions that can cause ED:
- Hypogonadism – a condition that affects the production of the male sex hormone, testosterone, causing abnormally low levels
- An overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) – where too much thyroid hormone is produced
- An underactive thyroid gland (hypothyroidism) – where not enough thyroid hormone is produced
- Cushing's syndrome – a condition that affects the production of a hormone called cortisol
Anatomical conditions
Peyronie's disease, which affects the tissue of the penis, is an example of
an anatomical condition that can cause erectile dysfunction.
Medicinal causes
In some men, certain medicines can cause erectile dysfuction, which includes:
- Diuretics – medicines that increase the production of urine and are often used to treat high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure and kidney disease
- Antihypertensives – medicines, such as beta-blockers, that are used to treat high blood pressure
- Fibrates – medicines that are used to lower cholesterol levels
- Antipsychotics – medicines that are used to treat some mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia
- Antidepressants – medicines that are used to treat depression and some types of pain
- Corticosteroids – medication that contains steroids, which are a type of hormone
- H2-antagonists – medicines that are used to treat stomach ulcers
- Anticonvulsants – medicines that are used to treat epilepsy
- Antihistamines – medicines that are used to treat allergic health conditions, such as hay fever
- Anti-androgens – medication that suppresses androgens (male sex hormones)
- Cytotoxics – medication used in chemotherapy to prevent cancer cells from dividing and growing
Speak to your GP if you are concerned that a prescribed medicine is causing
ED. Alternative medication may be available. However, it is important
never to stop taking a prescribed medicine unless you are advised to do so
by your GP or another qualified healthcare professional that is responsible for
your care.
Psychological causes
Possible psychological causes of ED include:
- depression – feelings of extreme sadness that last for a long time
- anxiety – a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear
Erectile dysfuction can often have both physical and psychological causes. For example, if
you have diabetes, it may be difficult for you to get an erection, which may
cause you to become anxious about the situation. The combination of diabetes
and anxiety may lead to an episode of ED.
There are many emotional issues that may also affect your physical
ability to get or maintain an erection. These include:
- relationship problems, such as being unable to talk openly about any problems that you have
- lack of sexual knowledge
- past sexual problems
- past sexual abuse
- being in a new relationship
Other causes
Other possible causes of erectile dysfuction include:
- excessive alcohol intake
- tiredness
- using illegal drugs, such as cannabis, heroin or cocaine
For other health-related issues, visit this site.
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
