Erectile Dyfunction Causes

The causes of erectile dysfunction can be both physical or psychological. At one time the doctors believed that erectile dysfunction was always caused by psychological issues. Well as we all now know, this is far from the truth, as a matter of fact the cause usually is physical. For example nerve damage and reduced blood flow are some of the most common physical causes. In this article I will take a look at what exactly are the physical and psychological reasons that cause for men to suffer from impotence.

There are over 200 very commonly prescribed drugs that are known to cause ED in many men. These drugs include antidepressants, tranquilizers, and sedatives, so often it isn’t the psychological reasons that cause erectile dysfunction but the drugs that treat them. Illicit drugs may affect the vascular and nervous systems and are associated with erectile dysfunction as well as heavy usage of alcohol.

Trauma to the pelvic region or spinal cord can often times damage veins and nerves that are needed for erection and so cause erectile dysfunction. Surgery of the colon, prostate, bladder, or rectum may also damage the nerves and blood vessels that are involved in erection. Prostate and bladder cancer surgery often times requires removing tissue and nerves surrounding a tumor, which also increases the risk of causing impotence.

Some studies have shown that almost 60% of men with diabetes have experienced impotence. Patients suffering from diabetes mellitus often have chronic high blood sugar levels that can lead into damaging small blood vessels and nerves throughout the body, which can cause patients experiencing problems having erections. Obesity is also one of the major causes of impotence.

Hormone disorders aren’t a very common cause of ED, they only account for fewer than 5% of cases of impotence. However, in rare cases where a male person is suffering from testosterone deficiency, it can result in a loss of libido.

Erection always begins with feelings of sexual excitement, so you might say that brains plays a key role in ”triggering” an erection. Things like depression, worry, stress, and anxiety all contribute to loss of libido and erectile dysfunction. When a man experiences loss of erection, he may worry that it will happen again. All this worrying can produce anxiety associated with performance and can lead to chronic problems during sex, which can result in erectile dysfunction. Different kinds of psychological factors in impotence are often secondary to physical causes, and they magnify their significance.

As you by now know, there are quite a few things that can cause erectile dysfunction. Fortunately these days there are various methods to treat ED. If you are one of the men suffering from this condition you may want to read the article about Erectile dysfunction treatments.

By Cynthia Stewart, November 15, 2008