Erectile dysfunction is not a term men want to hear, especially when it might be a reality for them.
This common condition refers to a man’s inability to get or maintain an erection long enough to enjoy intercourse with his partner. It’s completely natural for a man to have some trouble in the erection department every now and then but if it’s become an ongoing issue, it could be time to speak to a professional.
The reality is that while erectile dysfunction is a frustrating condition, it could be a sign of a more serious underlying problem such as heart disease that should be addressed sooner rather than later. Nobody wants to bring erectile dysfunction up with their doctor but this is not a time to be embarrassed, not when it concerns your health.
Understanding Your Erections
Getting an erection is not as simple as most men would like to believe. Your nerves, brain, muscles, hormones, emotions and blood vessels all need to work together to create an erection, so if your body is not functioning at optimum levels, naturally erections become a little more difficult to produce.
Unfortunately, men who are having trouble in the bedroom will start to feel more anxious and stressed, which only exacerbates the issue. Patients who contact specialised medical facilities such as CALIBRE clinics very often have an underlying health concern or emotional issue that ends up being the cause of their problem, but in other cases it can simply be linked to the natural ageing process.
The good news is that whatever the cause, you always have options. Erectile dysfunction does not need to ruin your sex life!
Let’s look at some of the most common causes of ED.
The Physical Side
Here are a few of the health issues that could be affecting your bedroom time.
- Diabetes
- Heart-related conditions
- High blood pressure or cholesterol
- Weight fluctuations
- Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease
- Nerve and muscular issues
- Smoking or substance abuse
- Prescription medications
- Peyronie’s disease
- Cancer treatments
- Sleep disorders
- Past surgery or injuries
The Psychological Side
Your brain and emotions need to be in good shape too if you want to experience regular, healthy erections. Here are the psychological issues that could be affecting your sex life:
- Anxiety and depression
- Undiagnosed mental health conditions
- Work-related stress
- Marriage or relationship problems
- General performance anxiety
- A lack of communication between sexual partners
The reality is that erectile dysfunction impacts the lives of countless men, even men you may know personally, it’s just that nobody actually speaks about it. Instead of getting frustrated about the issue though, it’s better to speak to your doctor so that any underlying causes can be treated. If ED is linked to something psychological, ignoring the issue only makes it more difficult to get your life back to normal again. The sooner you seek help, the sooner you’ll feel like your old self again.