There are several factors that can lead to impotence. It may not be possible for us to take you through all in this one article, but let’s look at a few causes which are more prominent that the others.

Psychological Causes

Nervousness, depression, stress, guilt and anxiety are some feelings that can interfere with sexual performance in men. And, it tends to be perpetuated in the form of a vicious cycle. If a man is unable to achieve an erection once, he may begin to worry about it. Confidence in his own masculinity may be undermined and he may become apprehensive and anxious about his sexual performance in the future. This thought process can affect his libido, which, in turn, will make him more depressed stressed. Unless this cycle is broken, it may cause chronic issues during sex, eventually leading to erectile dysfunction.

Physical Causes

There are certain physical causes that can lead to erectile dysfunction. In the preliminary stages of diagnosis, your doctor is going to try and eliminate some of the common physical conditions that can cause this problem. These include high blood pressure, heart diseases, low hormonal level, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and prostrate cancer. Apart from this, erectile dysfunction can be caused by the following conditions:

• Kidney failure
• Liver cirrhosis
• Hemachromatosis (presence of too much iron in the blood)
• Epilepsy
• Alzheimer disease
• Parkinson disease
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
• Multiple Sclerosis

Dietary factors, deficiency of zinc, lack of exercise, excessive use of tobacco, chain smoking, and blood diseases can also cause erectile dysfunction.

Medication

Very often, medicines that are prescribed for the treatment of other medical disorders can lead to erectile dysfunction. Some of the common medications associated with this condition are antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiulcer drugs, antihypertensives, medicines to lower cholesterol levels and treat prostrate cancer.

If you suspect that some of the prescribed drugs or medicines are causing erectile dysfunction, it is advisable to talk to the physician before you discontinue use yourself.

Surgical Causes

Surgery in the pelvic region, spinal chord or brain can lead to some arteries and the getting injured, causing erectile dysfunction as a result. Some of the procedures that have been known to cause this problem are aortofemoral bypass, proctocolectomy, abdominal perineal resection, Cryosurgery of the prostate, radical prostatectomy, Cystectomy, and radiation therapy for treatment of prostate, bladder, colon, or rectal cancer.

Hormone Imbalances

While hormonal imbalances are responsible for fewer than 5% instances of erectile dysfunction, it is worth a mention. Deficiency of the hormone testosterone can cause lack of libido and the inability to have an erection. However, this is an extremely rare condition, occurring infrequently. Apart from this, hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism can also result in erectile dysfunction.

The Erectile Process

In order to understand what Erectile Dysfunction is and what causes it, you need to understand how an erection occurs. An erection is a culmination of several complicated processes that work within a man’s body.

Most people believe that an erection begins and ends with the rigidity and flaccidity of the penis. However, there are several other components that are involved in an erection. These components include the central and peripheral nervous system, hormonal components, psychological factors, and the vascular components (components that facilitate the circulation of blood).

When a man is sexually stimulated, chemicals are released from the nerve endings of the penis, causing the muscles to relax in the erection bodies of the penis. As the muscle relaxes, the blood flow to the erection bodies increases and the penis becomes full and rigid. Interruption in any of the phases of erection can cause Erectile Dysfunction, where the man is unable to either achieve an erection or retain it for a considerable period of time to enjoy satisfactory sexual intercourse.

A Blow to the Self Esteem

Understandably, patients of erectile dysfunction can be quite devastated by their lack of prowess in the sexual arena. A man’s self-esteem and masculinity depends, to a large extent, on his sexual capabilities, and this condition can leave them with feelings of insecurity and, even, vulnerability.

Apart from the stress and depression that is caused by Erectile Dysfunction, men also feel that they lack the ability to keep their partners happy, and begin to withdraw from intimate relationships. This is a moment of anguish not only for him but also for his partner as he may appear distant and aloof, and seemingly uninterested in the relationship. This can put the relationship under great strain, as men may wallow in the feeling that they are no longer appealing to the opposite sex.

Dealing with the Effects of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile Dysfunction is a condition that affects the partner of the patient in as many ways as the patient himself. She also goes through similar feelings of despair, frustration, and insecurity. Therefore, the first step in dealing with the effects of impotence is proper communication between both partners. Guilt and lack of confidence can be countered if both people sat down and talked.

Recognizing the problem is essential because once you do that, you are in a position to decide what should be done next. Researching the underlying causes and possible forms of treatments is the next step, after which you should meet your physician who will rule out various possible causes and prescribe the right kind of treatment.

Remember, impotency or erectile impotence can worsen if you allow negativity to get to you. Therefore, stay free of stress, stay encouraged and know that this condition can be treated, given a little bit of time and patience.

Statistics on Erectile Dysfunction

As mentioned before, Erectile Dysfunction is an extremely prevalent condition among men, more so than we would suspect. Statistics claim that one out of every ten men in the world has erectile dysfunction, and in the United States alone, there are more than 30 million men suffering from impotency.

According to surveys done by the Sexual Dysfunction Association in UK, 10% of the men in UK have experienced sexual dysfunction, either temporarily or permanently, at some point of time in their life. The likelihood of getting erectile dysfunction increases with the progression in age. 39% of the patients were in their forties, whereas over 60% of them were in their late sixties. Even though Erectile Dysfunction is prevalent among older men, it is also seen to be rising among men in their twenties.

Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

There are several causes that lead to Erectile Dysfunction. These can be both psychological and physiological. However, there are a few factors that are more responsible for causing ED than others. For instance, vascular diseases like arteriosclerosis, which reduces the flow of blood in the body, accounts for over 50% of the cases of ED in men who are in their sixties. Diabetes can be yet another cause of ED as it was noticed that 50% of the men diagnosed with diabetes ended up with this condition, some within 10 years of this diagnosis.

Chain smokers are also more susceptible to Erectile Dysfunction. It was found that men who smoked more than 1 pack of cigarettes a day stood 50% higher chances of impotency than non smokers in the same age limit.

Treatment

There are several treatment options for Erectile Dysfunction, which include non surgical treatment like sex therapy, medication, suppositories, vacuum devices and surgical treatments as well.

Among drugs, the more effective ones are Viagra®, Levitra®, and Cialis®. Viagra is known to be effective in about 75% instances of ED. 83% of patients with Erectile Dysfunction arising from spinal injuries responded well to this drug as did 43% of patients with Diabetes mellitus.

Self-injection with prescribed drugs is yet another form of treatment. About 70% of the men declared that they were happy with the results, as an erection from these injections typically lasted from about half an hour to two hours.

A small percentage of patients of ED also go in for vascular reconstructive surgery. This treatment is best for young men whose main cause for Erectile Dysfunction is local arterial blockage. Nearly 75% of the men claimed that the process restored normal function of the penis.