Erectile dysfunction is something that most men will not discuss with their peers and many of them will not even discuss it with their doctor.
The truth is that erectile dysfunction is a very common condition. As a result of it being a taboo subject to many men, estimates of the incidence of ED are just that – estimates, but according to which study or article you read, the number of men who are suffering from or have suffered from ED varies from 20% to 50%.
The definition of erectile dysfunction is the inability to achieve or maintain an erection long enough to have satisfactory sexual intercourse.
Causes can be physical and psychological or a combination of the two. A selection of causes are listed here:
Physical causes
- Heart disease
- Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
- High cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Metabolic syndrome — a condition involving increased blood pressure, high insulin levels, body fat around the waist and high cholesterol
- Parkinson's disease
- Multiple sclerosis
- Certain prescription medications
- Tobacco use
- Peyronie's disease — development of scar tissue inside the penis
- Alcoholism and other forms of substance abuse
- Sleep disorders
- Treatments for prostate cancer or enlarged prostate
- Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord
- Low testosterone
Psychological causes
- Stress – everyone suffers from a degree of stress in their life; money worries, work stress, busy schedules, relationship problems. Stress is a major factor in people's lives and as a result, it represents one of the leading psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.
- Performance anxiety – anxiety is a psychological condition that can also exhibit physical symptoms such as elevated blood pressure, increased heart rate and fatigue which can in themselves affect sexual performance.
- Depression/anxiety – these conditions can affect a person physically and emotionally and have a great influence on their ability to perform sexually.
- Low self-esteem – it seems fairly obvious that if someone is unable to perform an otherwise normal human function such as sexual intercourse it is going to have a marked effect on a person’s self-esteem.
- Guilt – if there is guilt surrounding infidelity issues or other relationship problems, this, in turn, can have the effect of preventing someone from performing sexually.
- Indifference – erectile dysfunction may manifest as a result of indifference it may be due to a lack of interest in your partner, depression, trust in your partner or a loss of connection with your partner.
- Relationship problems – continuing from the last point, problems within a relationship can be a huge factor in erectile dysfunction.
- Pornography – whilst some people find that pornography may ‘spice up’ their sex life. For some, it can have a detrimental effect in raising the expectations of one or both partners about all things sexual! Remember, pornography is created as a result of sexual fantasy – not reality!
In order to avoid erectile dysfunction, it is necessary to avoid ‘developing’ any of the conditions or circumstances that may cause erectile dysfunction. We will now look at some ways to do this:
Stop smoking!
If you smoke and want to continue having a healthy sex life in the future then stop smoking now! Smoking causes cardiovascular disease which is one of the major causes of erectile dysfunction.
Eat a healthy diet
Eating a healthy diet is vital to staying healthy in all ways. Eating well can reduce your chances of developing heart disease and diabetes, both major contributory factors in ED. As a general rule of thumb, if your diet is bad for your heart it will also be bad for your erectile health.
It has been shown in studies that erectile dysfunction is uncommon in men who eat a mediterranean diet that contains fruit, vegetables, whole grains, good fats such as olive oil nuts and red wine – in moderation!
Avoid obesity by keeping your weight down
As we have already outlined, obesity and all its associated health issues are a common cause of impotence. If you are a healthy weight and keep within the healthy range of BMI (body mass index) then it is less likely that you will develop erectile dysfunction as well as many other diseases.
Don’t drink too much!
Whilst we have all heard the expression ‘brewers droop’ used to describe erectile dysfunction as a result of having too many drinks one evening, it is also worth remembering that alcohol can lead to long term erectile problems. If you think that too much alcohol is affecting you it may be time to cut back.
Check your blood pressure
Normal, unobstructed blood flow is the key to healthy erections. High blood pressure can make this more difficult by damaging blood vessels. Hypertension is closely linked to narrowed, ruptured or otherwise damaged blood vessels, an issue that can negatively affect blood flow and even potentially increase your risk of having a stroke or heart attack; it can also result in erectile dysfunction.
Check your cholesterol level
Researchers haven't determined that high cholesterol is a direct cause of ED, but the condition may contribute to erection problems. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle can reduce your cholesterol levels, which may also lower your chances of developing ED.
Keep an eye on your testosterone levels
Levels of testosterone drop as men get older and for some men, this may result in erectile dysfunction.
Symptoms that may suggest your levels are lower than they were are reduced sex drive, lack of stamina, moodiness and poor erections. If you experience these symptoms it would be advisable to consult your doctor who may be able to prescribe testosterone replacement therapy.
Check the medications you are taking
Some prescription drugs can affect erectile function. Some medications that cause erectile dysfunction include;
- Diuretics (pills that cause an increase in urine flow).
- Antihypertensives (medication for high blood pressure).
- Antihistamines.
- Antidepressants.
- Parkinson's disease drugs.
- Antiarrhythmics (medication for irregular heart action).
- Tranquilizers.
- Muscle relaxants.
If you are taking any of these drugs and think they may be causing you to experience erectile dysfunction it is important that you speak to your healthcare worker because they may be able to prescribe an alternative that will suit you better.
It is worth noting also that illegal drugs may cause erectile dysfunction and so are best avoided. Anabolic steroids are one of the drugs that are used by some athletes; they can shrink the testicle and reduce their ability to produce testosterone leading to erectile dysfunction.
Avoid causing injury to the penis
If you sustain an injury to the genitals this may cause erectile dysfunction. Such injuries may be caused by surgery which is necessary, however, the penis may be injured in other ways such as playing sports and some risky sex positions so it is important to take care of your penis if you want it to work properly!
Take regular exercise
Regular exercise will help you to stay healthy in many ways. It is a particularly vital factor in keeping the cardiovascular system healthy and keeping your cholesterol and blood pressure levels low, all of which are important factors in erectile dysfunction.
Aerobic exercise such as swimming, running, cycling for example is the best type of exercise to keep your cardiovascular system healthy.
Make sure you get enough sleep
Sufficient good quality sleep is another important factor in maintaining overall health. Lack of sleep. Poor quality of sleep and disrupted sleep can all cause erectile function problems.
Protect your mental health
Mental health problems commonly found in people such as stress and anxiety can cause a number of physical symptoms and erectile dysfunction is one of them.
If you suffer from one of these conditions then stress management techniques such as meditation and mindfulness may help. It may be worth considering these types of therapies as some of the medication given such as antidepressants and tranquillisers may compound the problem.
Conclusion
We have covered a number of ways to protect yourself from developing erectile dysfunction, most of them involve keeping the body as a whole healthy through good diet and exercise.
As with anything, prevention really is better than cure!