What Causes Erectile Disfunction?
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What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
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There are many psychological and physical reasons for erectile dysfunction. Reduced flow of blood to the penis and damaged nerves are the most common physical causes, though there are many underlying conditions associated with it.
Vascular Diseases
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Arteriosclerosis is the name given to a diseases wherein the arteries are hardened and narrowed, causing a reduction in the flow of the blood all through the body. This is commonly related to age and causes impotence in about 50 to 60 percent of men.
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Diabetes
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High levels of sugar in the body damages blood vessels and nerves in the body, including those required for erection. About 60 percent of men suffering from diabetes also experience erectile dysfunction.
Drugs and Medications
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Prescribed drugs taken for high blood pressure, other heart medications, tranquilizers, antidepressants, sedatives and a number of other medicines available over the counter could lead to impotence. Excessive alcohol and illicit drugs also affect the nervous and vascular systems leading to erectile dysfunction.
Hormonal Imbalance
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Erectile dysfunction due to hormonal disorders occurs in less than 5 percent of the cases. However, the deficiency in the production of testosterone results in loss of sexual desire and erection. Other hormonal imbalances occur due to pituitary gland tumor, kidney and liver diseases.
Neurologic Conditions
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Spinal cord and brain injuries such as paraplegia or a stroke might cause impotence as they disrupt the transport of nerve impulses from brain to the penis. Other nerve disorders include Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer's.
Surgery and Radiation Therapies
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When involved in an accident that has affected the pelvic region, the patient might experience lack of proper blood flow, even after a surgery, to the area ultimately leading to impotence. Also, a surgery of prostrate, colon, or the rectum damages the nerves and blood vessels required for an erection.
Therapies such as prostatectomy for prostate cancer and radical cystectomy for bladder cancer could cause damage to nerves controlling the erectile function.
Peyronie's disease causes inflammation and scarring to the erectile tissue and certain other venous leaks add to the erectile dysfunction.
Psychological conditions such as fear, stress, worry, guilt and other causes affect the erectile functioning.
Treatments
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Nonsurgical treatments include oral medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. Sex therapy and other psychological counseling may also be considered.
Surgical treatments include:
Penile implants are malleable and inflatable rods and tubes inserted into the penis.
Vascular reconstructive surgery is a process bypassing the blocked veins and arteries by transporting a vein from the leg and connecting to the penis.
Venous ligation is performed to prevent any venous leakages.
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