What is Erectile Dysfunction? Symptoms & Causes

What Is Erectile Dysfunction and How Does It Affect a Man’s Life?
Erectile dysfunction is something that can affect the majority of men at least once during their lifetime. It occurs when the mechanics of wanting to have sex don’t match up with the physical characteristics of being able to have sex. Men can be aroused internally, but because of erectile dysfunction, cannot do anything about that arousal physically.

There are a number of reasons why guys can end up suffering from erectile dysfunction. As with any medical condition, it is important to seek the advice of a medical professional for your specific circumstances. If you are concerned about something that has happened recently, then here is some information for you that may help to relieve some of the stress that ED may be causing.

What Is Erectile Dysfunction?

A common name for ED is impotence. In basic terms, it means that a guy is no longer capable of having an erection that is firm enough to have a sexual relationship. Occasional impotence from time to time is something that most men will face and is considered medically normal. Ongoing ED issues, however, can strain relationships and affect a guy’s confidence.

Most cases of ED can be successfully treated over time. Even if treating an underlying cause of erectile dysfunction doesn’t work, there are other direct treatments that may work so that your sexual drive can be restored. That’s why having information like this is so important. By knowing what causes ED, an effective treatment plan can be developed so that it doesn’t have to define a guys life any more.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

The components of the male sexual drive are an extremely complex process. It involves numerous systems within the human body. Hormones, muscles, the circulatory system, the brain, and even your emotions all contribute to your sexual drive. When one of these components is out of balance with all of the others, erectile dysfunction may occur.

For most men, the problem of ED has a foundation in something that is physically ailing them at that moment. Here are some of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction, even when it occurs in acute circumstances.

• Blocked blood vessels.
• High level of cholesterol or blood pressure.
• Obesity or diabetes.
• Heart disease.
• Diseases such as Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, or Peyronie’s.
• Smoking or other forms of tobacco use.
• Alcohol abuse.
• Enlarged prostates for injuries that of been suffered around the groin or spinal cord.

Here’s the good news: the physical conditions that create ED can often be relieved with simple changes in a lifestyle and minimal treatments from a doctor. It does not have to be something permanent. It does not need to create ongoing stresses with your sexual partner either.

Sometimes it isn’t a physical issue that causes ED. For guys that are struggling with psychological issues, erectile dysfunction can be a common side effect. In other words, it is the brain that has become out of balance within the man.

Relationship problems that can happen, stresses that may occur at work or at home, or even just simple anxiety that is above the normal baseline can all create erectile dysfunction issues.

What Are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction can take on many forms. The classic example of ED is for a guy who is unable to achieve an erection when feeling sexually aroused. This isn’t the only form of erectile dysfunction, however, that men suffer from on a daily basis. Guys who have an inability to keep an erection after it occurs, even when they are still sexually aroused internally, may also be suffering from ED.

Sometimes erectile dysfunction doesn’t affect the mechanics of having sex at all. Sometimes it results in a reduced sexual desire because some other component within the body has become out of balance. This could be because of a reduction of hormones, such as having low testosterone, or it could just be because of a lack of overall attraction to a potential partner.

Not all cases of ED require a visit to the doctor. It is advisable to seek out a doctor, however, if you are unsure of what is going on. If nothing else, the peace of mind that a doctor can provide can help guys be able to start the journey towards overcoming their erectile dysfunction issues.

If your erectile dysfunction issues are starting to affect the quality of your life, that’s when to start considering a visit to the family doctor. Remember that a sexual dysfunction issue doesn’t just affect you. It also affects your partner.

It’s also important to visit the doctor if ED issues are ongoing because it could be an indicator of a serious health problem. You might feel fine, but the reason you can’t get it up when you want to right now might be because you have a blocked artery. Maybe you have heart disease that has been undiagnosed. Diabetes could always be a possibility.

For guys that have specific issues that are causing their ED, treating those issues can often resolve the problems.

What about Peyronie’s Disease?

One of the unique conditions that can cause erectile dysfunction in guys is called Peyronie’s disease. This occurs in about 10% of men at any given time. You can tell when Peyronie’s disease is present because a guys manhood is curved unnaturally or has strange shapes or lumps that affect how straight it is when an erection is achieved.

The reason why this enhanced curvature occurs is because of thickened tissues that develop on the penile tissues. These tissues are called “plaque,” but it’s not like the stuff that you can find on your teeth. It’s more like scar tissue. That means guys who are suffering from this disease have likely experienced some form of injury to their pelvic region.

Injuries don’t have to be painful or severe to begin the development of Peyronie’s disease. Even simple injuries that occur during sexual intercourse are thought to be a cause of this disease. If you suspect that you have developed Peyronie’s, then it is important to seek out treatment options right away. Scar tissue is tougher than the regular penile tissue, which means that curvature issues may continue developing over time and worsen the ED issue.

Without treatment, Peyronie’s disease can often be painful. It can also be part of the erectile dysfunction foundation from which you are suffering right now.

How Can Erectile Dysfunction Be Stopped Right Now?

For many guys, ED is something that is just becoming part of their normal daily life. That’s because certain medical treatments, especially those that are used to treat cancer or certain prostate issues, can also create ED problems. When combined with the natural stresses and fears that accompany a serious medical condition, erectile dysfunction is a completely natural result.

Stopping bad habits is also a good way to reduce the chances of ongoing erectile dysfunction issues. If you are using alcohol or illicit drugs frequently, then stopping them could resolve your erectile dysfunction issues. If you are overweight, then reducing the amount of your BMI percentage by as little as 5% could resolve your issues.

Other treatment options may also be available according to your specific symptoms and circumstances.

You Really Can Cope with ED and Find Support

No matter what the reasons are behind the erectile dysfunction issues that you’re facing right now, it is important to find a way to cope with the stresses that this condition can cause. Finding support from your partner is one of the most effective ways to reduce the stress levels that ED tends to cause.

It is also important to remember that most men who have erectile dysfunction issues don’t have a long-term problem. If you just have the occasional ED issue, it may not be a reflection of your health at all. It is definitely not a reflection of your masculinity! As guys get older, the amount of hormones that are within their body tends to change. These changes can lead to the occasional ED issue.

It is fully natural. If only one ED incident is happened to you, then there is a good chance that you have nothing to worry about.

It is also important to have open and honest communication with your sexual partner. It is very common for partners to see an ED issue as a sign that you are no longer interested in them. Make sure that you inform them that this is not the case. The most successful treatments for ED involve a man and his partner working together to solve the problem.

Do not ignore the fears or stresses that you are feeling. You need to cope with these things as soon as possible! Finding a treatment solution that works and seeing a mental health provider when necessary can help guys get through even the most difficult ED situations when they occur.

Erectile dysfunction does not define a man. What defines a man is how he responds to it. If you take this information and apply it to a treatment plan, you will be able to overcome this temporary obstacle in in your life.