Erectile dysfunction stands for inability to achieve and maintain erection firm enough to have a successful sexual intercourse or ability to get only brief erections. Another word, “impotence” is often used in connection with erectile dysfunction. Some people use both terms, “impotence and “erectile dysfunction”, to name the phenomenon described above while others also use ‘impotence’ to describe other problems related to sexual activity such as problems with ejaculation, orgasm and others.
Erectile dysfunction may be caused by multiple reasons as a lot of tissues and nerves are involved in the erection and therefore it’s enough to damage one of them to affect the ability to achieve erection. During the process of erection all of the following should work properly:
- Nerve endings and nerves that transmit impulses to the brain
- Spinal column
- Muscles in the penis
- Tissues of the penis and around it
- Veins and arteries throughout the body
Causes of erectile dysfunction may be either physiologic or psychological.
Most often erectile dysfunction arises from damage to nerves, arteries, smooth muscles and tissues. Often such damages are a result of a disease or intake of medications.
Blood inflow is required to achieve and maintain erection thereby malfunctioning vascular system that is especially susceptible to damages accounts for the majority of erectile dysfunction cases.
The most common diseases that result in impotence are:
- Diabetes
- Vascular diseases
- Sclerosis
- Atherosclerosis
- Kidney diseases
- Neurologic diseases
About 70% of erectile dysfunction cases are caused by these diseases. Almost every second man who suffers from diabetes has problems with potency.
Other foes of potency are alcoholism and smoking. Erectile dysfunction caused by alcohol abuse even got the name “brewer’s droop”.
Your overall fitness and lifestyle affect your ability to perform in bed greatly. Those overweight and not leading an active life bear great risk to end up with impotence.
Physical damages to important muscles, tissues and arteries are possible during surgeries and thus cause erectile dysfunction. Injuries to the penis itself, spinal cord, pelvis, and bladder produce the same effect.
Many medications have side effects related with impotence. Blood pressure drugs, antidepressants, tranquilizers, antihistamines, ulcer drugs, etc may help you to solve other health problems but cause erectile dysfunction.
Besides do not forget about psychological factors of erectile dysfunction.
