Erectile dysfunction or male impotence is a commonly experienced condition by males. This condition interferes with the normal sexual function. A multitude of causes leads to erectile dysfunction or male impotence. Treatment of this condition is dependent on the cause. Appropriate treatment can help you eradicate this problem. Are you aware of the various causes leading to erectile dysfunction?
Below mentioned are 5 causes which give rise to Male impotence or Erectile Dysfunction:-
1. Physical causes
Approximately 80% of the erectile dysfunction cases are due to physical cause. There are four types of conditions which can lead to physical causes leading to male impotence. They are:
They are:
- Vasculogenic conditions affecting the blood supply to your male sexual organ. Arteries carrying blood supply to the male sexual organ are narrowed. As the blood flow is not adequate, election fails to take place. Cardiovascular disease and high blood pressure are some of the examples of vasculogenic conditions leading to male impotence.
- Neurogenic conditions affecting your nervous system. Examples of diseases which affect the nerves going to the male sexual organ are multiple sclerosis, stroke, Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, spinal injury, fractured pelvis, prostate cancer, Alzheimer’s disease, temporal lobe epilepsy, etc.
- Hormonal conditions affecting your hormone levels. Imbalance in your hormones, such as testosterone, thyroid or prolactin can cause erectile dysfunction. Examples of hormonal conditions that cause erectile dysfunction are hypogonadism, Cushing’s syndrome, hyperthyroidism, hypothyroidism, etc.
- Anatomical conditions affecting the physical structure of your male sex organ. An example of anatomical conditions leading to erectile dysfunction is Peyronie’s disease.
2. Psychological Causes
The brain plays a major role in triggering series of physical events that give rise to erection. There are several factors that may interfere with sexual feelings and cause erectile dysfunction. They are depression, stress, anxiety, relationship problems, past sexual abuse, fear of failure, lack of sexual knowledge, etc.
The problem of erectile dysfunction may resolve with improvement in your mental state. If at times you get good erections and at other times you fail to get an erection, there are chances that the cause is psychological and not physical.
3. Traumatic Causes
Injury to the male sexual organ, pelvis or surrounding areas can occasionally cause erectile dysfunction. Long-distance cycling can be a cause of male impotence as pressure is created on the nerves going to the penis, due to prolonged sitting on the saddle. This may have an effect on the function of the nerve after the ride.
4. Medicinal Causes
Medications that are used to treat other medical conditions may lead to erectile dysfunction. Consult your physician if you think, erectile dysfunction is due to a medication. Some medications can affect the blood supply to the male sexual organ which may lead to male impotence. Some of the medications associated with erectile dysfunction are: Antidepressants; Antihistamines; Antipsychotics; Anticancer medication; Antihypertensives; corticosteroids; sedatives; Antiulcer drugs; diuretics; anticonvulsant; narcotic pain relievers; cholesterol-lowering drugs; beta-blockers; medications used to treat prostate cancer, benign enlargement of the prostate, lower cholesterol; etc.
5. Surgical Causes
Surgery in the pelvic area can lead to injury to the nerves and the arteries surrounding the male sexual organ which may result in erectile dysfunction. Surgical procedures on a brain and spinal cord may also lead to erectile dysfunction. Conditions often associated with erectile dysfunction are – Radical prostatectomy, aorta femoral bypass, Cryosurgery of the prostate, Brachytherapy, Cystectomy, etc.
These are few of the causes which may give rise to erectile dysfunction or male impotence. This article is for information purposes only and a visit to your doctor to get evaluated is a must.
