Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
July 17, 2023, by Dr Samreen Asad
Men often go to their doctors because they can’t get or keep an erection. It’s a common health issue that affects about 15% of guys every year. In 1995, it was thought that erectile dysfunction affected more than 150 million men around the world. By 2025, this number is expected to rise to 320 million.
Understand that having trouble with your erection now and then isn’t always a big deal. It can be caused by stress, worry, or a mental state at the time. If you have erectile dysfunction on a regular basis, it can cause worry and problems in your relationships. If this is the case, you should talk to a doctor about it and get it treated.
How do I get an erection?
During an erection, nerves release chemicals that increase blood flow into the penis. This blood runs into two erection chambers made of soft muscle tissue called the corpus cavernosum, which traps the blood inside. The pressure of the blood in the chambers makes the penis harder, which leads to an erection.
When a man has an orgasm, nerve signals again go to the penis. This makes the corpus cavernous tissue in the penis contract, which sends blood back into the bloodstream. The erection goes away, and the penis goes back to being soft and limp.
As you get older, ED is more likely to happen. But it doesn’t have to come with getting older, and it can be treated at any age.
What makes it hard to get an erection?
Many different things can cause or contribute to erectile dysfunction. For example, problems with the vascular system, nervous system, or hormonal system can cause or contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Problems caused by feelings.
The physical reasons
Having trouble getting an erection is caused by things like:
The penis doesn’t get nerve messages.
So, when the nervous system is effected by an injury, surgery, or disease, messages can’t get to the penis.
Not enough blood is getting to the area.
When blood doesn’t move into the penis, there isn’t enough pressure in the blood. This can be caused by health problems like heart disease and high blood sugar (diabetes).
Drugs that are used to help with other illnesses.
Men can have trouble getting an erection because of the side effects of drugs.
Causes that are psychological or emotional
Most cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by mental and emotional problems. If you have one or more of the following, you may have erectile dysfunction:
- Fear of failing in bed
- Stress at home or at work Arguments between people
- Depression
- Fear of sexual failure because of low self-esteem
- Lifestyle and actions lead to
- Smoking
- Having too much to drink
- Using illegal drugs
- not getting enough exercise
- Too much weight and not enough exercise
Is 20-year-old erectile dysfunction common?
Most of us think that erectile dysfunction is something that only affects older men.
According to some figures, it affects 8% of males aged 20 to 29 and 11% of males aged 30 to 39, according to a recent study.
So, remember that erectile failure that lasts for days is something to worry about. You should see a doctor to figure out what’s wrong. ED is often a sign of another health problem or factor that has something to do with health.
How do you fix not being able to get an erection?
Depending on how bad your erectile dysfunction is, you may have different treatment choices. Before you choose a treatment, check to see if it has any side effects.
Your doctor can tell you about the risks and benefits of each treatment and will take into account what you and your partner want.
