The truth is most erection problems are due to a combination of causes that can vary from person to person.
Physical causes of ED
There are a number of physical conditions that can cause erection problems. Some affect the blood flow to the penis (vasculogenic). Others affect the nervous system (neurogenic). There are others that affect hormone levels (hormonal). And there are conditions that affect the physical structure of your penis (anatomical).
Because erectile dysfunction can be linked with serious conditions such as heart disease it is a good idea to talk to the doctor to find out if your form of erectile dysfunction has a physical cause.
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Vasculogenic
• Heart Disease
• Diabetes
• Hypertension
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Hormonal
• Hypogonadism (low testosterone)
• Hyperthyroidism (over active thyroid gland)
• Hypothyroidism (under active thyroid gland)
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Neurogenic
• Stroke
• Parkinson’s disease
• Spinal Injuries
• Tumours
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Anatomical
• Peyronies disease (a scarring condition that causes the penis to bend during sex)
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Psychological causes of ED
In some cases, impotence can have psychological causes. Scientifically, this means the messages your brain sends to your body when aroused are being affected. If you are worried this could be the cause of your erection problem, then you should talk to the doctor. If you only experience erectile dysfunction in certain situations, it could be a sign that your problem has a psychological cause -
• Performance anxiety
• Trauma
• Relationship problems
• Psychosis
• Depression
• Fear of intimacy
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Lifestyle causes of ED
Sometimes erection hardness can be affected by the life you lead. If so, a few lifestyle changes could help. A healthy lifestyle may mean a healthier penis – could it be that your lifestyle is contributing to your erectile dysfunction? -
• Drug abuse
• Alcoholism
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Sedentary lifestyle
Identify your symptoms
Take a look at these questions to help you identify your symptoms:
1. Do you sometimes wake up with an erection?
Yes: Your ED may be due to an emotional or psychological problem, like stress or feeling anxious about something which may or may not be to do with your sex life.
No: Your ED may have a physical cause.
2. During sex, do you sometimes have erections hard enough for penetration?
Yes: Your ED is probably mainly psychological.
No: Your ED may be due mainly to a physical cause - unless you sometimes have erections on waking up or when masturbating. In this case, it's still likely to be at least partly psychological.
3. Can you get an erection when you're masturbating, and does it last until you ejaculate?
Yes: Your problem in achieving and keeping an erection at other times may be psychological.
No: Your ED may be mainly physical.
Remember, some of these symptoms are also seen with other health problems, so it's important to check with your doctor.