Erectile dysfunction is a dreaded condition faced by many
unfortunate men. Besides being unable to fully enjoy sex himself, he is
also unable to provide the sexual gratification to his partner. In some
cases, it also causes tremendous psychological pressure and emotional
stress to the man as he feels inadequate when he is unable to perform in
bed. In worse cases, it can cause a relationship to fail and marriage
to dissolve. While there are many ways and remedies offered in the
internet on curing erectile dysfunction in men, it is more important to
know what causes the condition in the first place. Only by knowing the
factors that cause it can we then try to prevent it from happening.
Prevention is always better than cure. Here are 6 factors that may cause
erectile dysfunction.
1. Depression.
Depression not only
reduces your interest in sex, it severely affects your ability to
perform during sexual intercourse. Depression produces a biochemical
component that makes it difficult to develop and sustain an erection.
Not being able to perform well or up to expectation in bed can worsen
the depression in men and in turn propagate the erectile dysfunction
problem. It is a vicious cycle. Certain anti-depression drugs may also
cause sexual problems which include erectile dysfunction, loss of libido
and loss of sexual stamina and drive. Be sure to check with your doctor
on any medication that you take.
2. High blood pressure.
Good blood circulation to the penis is important to develop and sustain
an erection. If you suffer from high blood pressure, it probably means
that the blood vessels are damaged in the body making them less able to
transport the required volume of blood to the penis quick enough for an
erection to take place. Again, certain medications used for treating
high blood pressure may also cause erectile dysfunction. While you
should not stop your doctor's prescribed medication on your high blood
pressure condition, making healthy lifestyle changes such as eating more
healthily and getting more exercise can help to lower your blood
pressure so that you don't need to take the medications any longer.
3. Cycling.
Long distance biking has been proven to increase your risk of erectile
dysfunction. In a review article by the Journal of Sexual Medicine, 4
percent of male bikers who spent 3 hours per week on the bicycle suffer
mild to severe erectile dysfunction compared to 1 percent of runners of
the same age. Sitting prolonged duration on a bike exerts pressure on
the nerves and arteries that transport blood to the penis. These
arteries may become damaged over time resulting in hampered blood flow
to the penis which causes the dreaded condition.
4. Your partner being on "very good" terms with your buddies.
Having your wife or girlfriend spending more time with your buddies
than you do and enjoying herself tremendously while she is at it may
cause you to increase your risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction.
This is according to a new research in the American journal of
Sociology. This has partly got to do with the social perceptions of
masculinity in men and how psychological factors can play a big role in
your sexual performance.
5. Gum disease.
Gum disease shows
that you are suffering from an overall poor health. It is also shown to
be connected to increased risk of heart disease which is another factor
for causing erectile dysfunction. Gum disease and heart disease may be
resulted from a problem with blood flow and circulation in the body and
is likely that the poor blood flow and circulation also affects other
parts of the body including the penis.
6. Drugs for hair loss.
Certain medication for treating hair loss may produce undesirable side
effects including erectile dysfunction and loss of sexual drive in men.
These drugs cause reduced level of testosterone which is the male sex
hormone responsible for maintaining a healthy sex drive. This hormonal
change in the body may lead to the inability to develop an erection in
men.