WHAT CAUSES ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?

It should be noted that every man experiences temporary periods of impotence at one time or another during his life. That’s entirely normal and you do not need treatment unless the problem is persistent.

• Failure to initiate results from impaired release of the chemical messages sent by the nervous system. The inability to initiate an erection can be seen in cases of hormonal insufficiency, spinal cord injury, radical pelvic surgery, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
• Failure to fill results from poor blood flow into the penis. The inability to develop an erection rigid enough for intercourse is caused by blockage in the arteries, common in cases of hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and pelvic trauma.
• Failure to store results from venous leakage when blood escapes too quickly from the penis, leaking back into the body. This inability to maintain an erection rigid enough for intercourse is common in cases of hypertension, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol and pelvic trauma.
  

The important thing to remember is that most causes of impotence are physical and often beyond your control. While it is not good to have these medical problems (diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke or prostate disease, etc.), they are conditions couples can probably accept and should feel comfortable about trying to correct.

Diseases of the blood vessels (vascular disease) are the leading cause of Erectile Dysfunction. Vascular disorders include arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), hypertension, high cholesterol and other conditions that interfere with blood flow. If poor blood flow occurs in the heart or coronary vessels, it causes heart attacks; when it occurs in the brain, it causes strokes; and when it occurs in the penis, it causes Erectile Dysfunction.

Another vascular problem, “venous leakage,” occurs when the penile veins are unable to close off (constrict) properly during an erection. When the veins “leak,” blood escapes too quickly back into the body and the erection fails.

Diabetes is a very common cause of Erectile Dysfunction. This disease can damage both blood vessels and nerves. When nerves are affected, the brain cannot properly transmit the sexual stimulus that creates an erection. Some 50% to 70% of all diabetic men ultimately suffer from Erectile Dysfunction.

Nerve disorders are another cause of Erectile Dysfunction. They affect the nervous system and include multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury with paralysis.

Pelvic surgery may also result in Erectile Dysfunction. Surgical procedures involving the prostate gland, the bladder or colon may damage the nerves and/or injure the blood vessels involved in erectile response. Radiation treatment in this area can also affect the erectile process.

Prescription drugs often cause Erectile Dysfunction as a side effect, and over 200 medications fall into this category. Never change a dosage or stop taking a prescribed drug without the advice of your doctor. Substance abuse affects erectile function as well. Illegal drugs and the excessive use of alcohol or tobacco can seriously damage the blood vessels and nerves involved in a normal erection.

Hormonal deficiencies are another source of Erectile Dysfunction. For example, low levels of testosterone or thyroid hormone often cause poor quality erections. Excessive production of prolactin by the pituitary gland may contribute to a low testosterone level and lack of desire. Diabetes is also considered a hormonal disorder.