Effects of Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED), commonly known as impotence, can be troubling, even devastating, to a man. But it can be equally so for his partner as well, as Beth (who asked that her real name not be used) found out.

"It really undermines a relationship," says Beth, who recently broke off an engagement with a man who suffers from ED. It's especially difficult, she adds, if the man blames his partner, as her fiancé did.

"Even though my fiancé admitted that he had always had difficulties with his erections," says Beth, "he tried to tell me that it was my fault. After you hear that enough, you start to believe it, and it can really affect your self-esteem."

That's not unusual, says Karen Donahey, PhD, director of the Sex and Marital Therapy Program at Northwestern University Medical Center in Chicago. "A woman may struggle with the notion that she's no longer attractive to her man," says Donahey. "Even if the man assures her it's not true, there's still a worry there."

The stronger a woman's self-esteem is, says Donahey, the less threatened she'll feel by her partner's erectile dysfunction and the more supportive she'll be able to be.

"It's important for both men and women to realize that ED is not at all uncommon," says Donahey. Indeed, most estimates suggest that at least 50% of men in the U.S. experience some form of sexual dysfunction at some point in their lives. ED is one of the most common male sexual problems, affecting an estimated 30 million men in the U.S. and approximately 140 million men worldwide.

What Is Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex.

Having erection trouble from time to time isn't necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease.

Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these. Likewise, stress and mental health concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction.

Sometimes a combination of physical and psychological issues causes erectile dysfunction. For instance, a minor physical condition that slows your sexual response might cause anxiety about maintaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can lead to or worsen erectile dysfunction.

The brain plays a key role in triggering the series of physical events that cause an erection, starting with feelings of sexual excitement. A number of things can interfere with sexual feelings and cause or worsen erectile dysfunction. These include: Depression, anxiety or other mental health conditions Stress Relationship problems due to stress, poor communication or other concerns.

As you get older, erections might take longer to develop and might not be as firm. You might need more direct touch to your penis to get and keep an erection.

Various risk factors can contribute to erectile dysfunction, including:

Medical conditions, particularly diabetes or heart conditions Tobacco use, which restricts blood flow to veins and arteries, can — over time — cause chronic health conditions that lead to erectile dysfunction Being overweight, especially if you're obese Certain medical treatments, such as prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer Injuries, particularly if they damage the nerves or arteries that control erections Medications, including antidepressants, antihistamines and medications to treat high blood pressure, pain or prostate conditions Psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety or depression Drug and alcohol use, especially if you're a long-term drug user or heavy drinker

Top 3 causes of Erectile Dysfunction

• 1
  Nerve disorders

  The nerves are signal carriers that relay information from the brain to the penile tissues. Duly alerted, the blood vessels open, allowing enough blood to rush into the penis to make it rigid. If there is a problem with these nerves, however, either from prostate treatment (surgery or radiation therapy) or diseases that affect the nerves, the messages aren’t transmitted correctly. The outcome is an impaired erection or none at all.
• 2
  Vascular problems

  The major cause of vascular erectile difficulties typically originates from problems with the two deep cavernosal arteries, or the larger arteries that feed blood to these cavernosal vessels. A man experiencing vascular problems may find that his erections become less firm than they once were. He’ll start out with a strong erection, but during the course of sexual activity it will begin to lose rigidity. Over time, he may begin to experience difficulty in having an erection at all.
• 3
  Medications

  In many cases, erectile dysfunction is a side effect of a prescription drug. Currently, more than 200 medications can seriously compromise erections and sexual performance. The most common offenders are medications for high blood pressure, heart ailments, and allergies. Medications used to combat depression— especially the serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as Prozac, Zoloft, and Paxil — can be a culprit.