What is Causing Your Erectile Dysfunction?

What is Causing Your Erectile Dysfunction?

What is causing your erectile dysfunction will depend, largely; on what age group you happen to fall in to. As a rough guide though, if you are aged forty years or younger, the chances are 75% or better that your erectile problem has a strong psychogenic element to it. This is what we call Performance Anxiety.

(1) Performance Anxiety. This is the commonest cause for a man failing to achieve or sustain an erection of sufficient quality to satisfy the needs of either party engaged in sexual activity. Have you ever found yourself ‘watching’ yourself as you begin intimacies with your partner? Have you ever wondered about the size of your penis and found yourself worrying if it might last? These are classical examples of negative thoughts that block the flow of pleasurable arousal and desire that leads to an erection. It is NOT your fault that this is happening. It is NOT your partner’s fault either. Nor is it ‘just in the mind’. No, it is all too real and it takes time and patients to cure. Sometimes the use of a medication, taken for a few weeks, can help return your confidence and forget about watching yourself trying to perform. Other than that, pleasuring, without the challenge of intercourse for a few weeks, is the way forwards. This takes the cooperation of a partner in a steady relationship. It is not an option in a one night stand scenario.

On the other side of this coin and again as a rough guide only, if you are aged fifty or older, the chances are 75% or greater that your erectile dysfunction will have a strong physiological element to it. The commonest physiological cause of ED is arteriosclerosis.

(2) Arteriosclerosis. This means the narrowing of the blood vessels to your penis preventing the flow of sufficient blood to bring about an erection. Typically, it affects older men and often it will have other manifestations like coronary artery disease or angina pectoris. It usually can be managed with specifically targeted medications but occasionally the addition of Testosterone Replacement Therapy or penis injection may have to be considered.

(3) Medications and Drugs. All illicit drugs like the opiates, cannabis and cocaine can all lead to erectile dysfunction. Alcohol and nicotine too can contribute to ED. In addition to these many prescription medications like the beta-blockers, H2 antagonists but most particularly the newer antidepressants and antipsychotic can quickly lead to the development of erectile dysfunction. The solution to this is to discontinue all such drugs and medications. If this can’t be done then penis injection may be the only solution.

(4) Any Chronic Illness. Diabetes type 1 or 2, MS, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s Disease and so on can lead to the development of ED. The solution here will take some working out with a specialist but Testosterone Replacement Therapy again may have a role to play.

(5) History of Prostate Surgery. Surgery for BPH or so-called TURPS, prostatectomy for cancer or any aggressive pelvic surgery can give rise to erectile dysfunction. Again, the solution here will require some expert intervention but may well involve penis injection with Caverject or some such.

If you visit me at www.andrewrynne.com I can help you to diagnose the cause and manage your unique type of erectile dysfunction. You can ask me any question you like also without charge.