

For some men there is a physical or medical reason for this. having an erection of a shorter than usual duration.Įrectile dysfunction occurs when sexual stimulation or arousal does not result in enough blood flow to your penis, even though you may still have the urge.Some estimates indicate that about 40% of men over the age of 40 will have erection problems at times. Image credit: 123rf What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction? Arousing thoughts or nervous-system mechanisms such as touch reflexes are 2 ways you can get an erection. In addition, hormones and other substances determine how your nerves transmit ‘sexual signals’ and how blood vessels respond to the received signals. This lets more blood in, which causes the sponge-like tissues of your penis to swell and harden. Your thoughts and senses (touch, hearing, smell and sight) influence a part of your brain that can trigger an erection. During an erection, the blood vessels that let blood into your penis relax and widen (dilate). Getting an erection is a complicated process. You can help yourself by cutting down on alcohol, stopping smoking a nd reducing the stress in your life.There are several solutions, but recognising the problem and talking about it with your doctor are the key first steps.It can be distressing and may cause loss of confidence and self-esteem or depression, as well as relationship problems.Erectile dysfunction is not a disease, but a symptom of some other problem, either physical or psychological or a mixture of both.What are the links between low libido, premature ejaculation and erectile dysfunction?.What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction?.On this page, you can find the following information: Many men have erection problems at times and the chance of this happening increases with age. It means you can't maintain an erect enough penis for satisfactory sexual intercourse. Lifestyle changes – you can also make long term adjustments to your lifestyle so you are less likely to have problems in the future.Erectile dysfunction is also known as impotence. Discussing your expectations with your partner before sex and knowing their expectations may also help in reducing your anxiety.Being anxious will only make you feel worse and cause performance anxiety Trying to stay relaxed and not worry about getting an erection before and during sex is also important.

Trying different ways to gain arousal can help you maintain or avoid losing an erection during sex You can be sexually stimulated through sight, sound, touch or thought.Your brain is the most important organ to bring about arousal needed for an erection: Mental stimulation is a good place to start – although the penis is sensitive to touch, this alone does not always provide an erection. medicines that affect hormone levels, including some that are used to treat different forms of cancer.antidepressants and medications that are used to treat mental health conditions.some medicines that are used to treat heart conditions.blood pressure medicines, particularly some beta-blockers and water tablets.using anabolic steroids for non-medical purposes, like bodybuildingĮD can also be an unwanted side effect of some medicines.using recreational drugs, including cocaine, marijuana, and others.nervous system disorders, such as Multiple Sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease.hormone imbalances, such as thyroid problems or low testosterone (this can lead to a low sex drive).Physical causes of ED tend to occur more gradually, but are continuous over a period of time.

This could then trigger even more feelings of anxiety, resulting in a negative cycle If you develop fear about your performance, it could make any erection problems worse. This happens for men of all ages, but is more common in younger men. Relationship problems can also cause these feelings In general, emotional causes are more common in younger men, and physical causes are more common in older men.Įmotional causes can be triggered by any life event that upsets your emotional well-being. Getting treatment for these issues as soon as possible could help a lot. There might be underlying health issues that are playing a part in your ED, and these may be either emotional or physical causes. It’s important to speak to your online doctor or GP if this becomes a persistent problem for you. This is called erectile dysfunction (ED). For some men, getting or maintaining an erection may start to happen regularly.
