1068
Facebook Twitter instagram Youtube

Understanding The Common Causes of Erectile Dysfunction and Treatment Options

Erectile dysfunction (ED) can stop your ability to have a healthy sex life because it prevents you from achieving and sustaining an erection that is strong enough for sexual activity. Occasional erection problems are common in many men , and these may arise if you experience nervousness, anxiety, or fatigue during sex, and alcohol use with drugs can also have an impact on this problem.

However, it may also be a side effect of specific prescription drugs or cancer therapies, or it may be the outcome of other illnesses, so you should be careful about your health if you have been experiencing this condition for some time now.

There are many cures for erectile dysfunction, but to understand which cure will work for you, and before treatment starts, your doctor will need to diagnose the cause of your ED. Making an appointment with a healthcare professional is the best option if you're experiencing ED problems, but let us discuss the potential causes that may result in ED so that you get some idea now.

What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?

There are many erectile dysfunction causes, so let us check those one by one because if you know the common reasons, it might make you understand if you need treatment immediately. However, you need to remember that you should never take ED cure medications without consulting a doctor because it can cause side effects and make the condition worse. 

1. Taking Medications

If you take many prescription drugs, there is a chance that drug interactions might alter your blood flow, which can result in ED, however, regardless of whether a medicine is known to develop ED, you should never start or stop using it without first consulting your doctor. The most common drugs that may cause ED issues are listed below, so take a look.

  • Antihistamines

  • Alpha-adrenergic blockers - tamsulosin (Flomax) 

  • Cimetidine (Tagamet)

  • Beta-blockers

  • Metoprolol (Lopressor)

  • Chemotherapy

  • Alprazolam (Xanax) and Diazepam (Valium)

  • Depressants

  • Prozac and Paroxetine

  • Synthetic hormones 

  • Amphetamines

  • Furosemide (Lasix)

2. Neurological and Nerve Disorders

Many neurological disorders might be the erectile dysfunction causes that resulted in your ED problem, and even though some of these problems are hard to treat, you must not be discouraged because there are many cures for erectile dysfunction, so it is likely that you will find your cure. The neurological conditions listed here are sometimes related to ED problems in many men:

  • Alzheimer's disease

  • Parkinson's 

  • Tumours in the brain or spine

  • MS, or multiple sclerosis

  • Stroke

  • Temporal lobes seizure 

3. Endocrine System Problems 

The hormones that control your mood, sexual function, metabolism, and many other aspects of the body are produced by the endocrine system, and endocrine system issues can result in ED in many men. An example of an endocrine disorder that might result in impotence is diabetes, and in this case, the body's capacity to utilize the insulin hormone is impacted. Diabetes-related problems can include decreased hormone levels and reduced blood flow, and either of these two elements may cause ED. 

4. Lifestyle Choices and Emotional Issues 

There is an excitement phase that you go through before you have an erection, and this stage involves an emotional reaction, so a mental illness may have an impact on your capacity to experience sexual arousal. ED risk is higher in you if you have depression and anxiety, and depression-related fatigue may also contribute to ED. 

ED might also result from performance anxiety, and if you worry that you won't be able to have an erection during sex, chances are you will have problems doing exactly that. Sometimes, emotional issues are caused by a certain partner, and you can discover that you are unable to get an erection. 

If you have been diagnosed with ED associated with performance anxiety, you might be able to get complete erections when sleeping or masturbating, but not be able to keep the erection during sexual activity with that partner, which means you are having psychological problems. Emotional issues caused by your alcohol abuse and alcohol use disorders (AUD) might impair your ability to get and keep an erection, and if you see that you are struggling with substance abuse, get help from your doctor.

5. Cardiac Conditions

ED can be brought on by illnesses that impair the heart's capacity to pump blood effectively, and in this situation, you are unable to get an erection because there is insufficient blood flow to your penis. An enlarged blood artery caused by atherosclerosis may be the cause of this type of ED, however, an elevated risk of ED is also linked to high blood pressure, hypertension, and cholesterol levels in men.

What is The Cure for Erectile Dysfunction?

Your doctor will decide on an erectile dysfunction treatment plan depending on the cause of your ED, your age, general health, medical history, ED severity, and your ability to tolerate particular drugs, treatments, or procedures. The following are a few ED therapies that are available for patients:

1. Medical Treatments

Many men get erectile dysfunction medication such as Sildenafil and Tadalafil for their ED treatment. Medical erectile dysfunction treatment is the most used method because other treatments come with certain side effects. The medications we mentioned above are reliable and can be the most useful erectile dysfunction medication for you if you take them regularly.

To identify the reason for your ED, you will need a thorough physical examination, and you should also tell your physician about all the prescription or non-prescription medications you use so that they can identify the cause correctly. The medical treatment drugs for men with ED might not be beneficial for people with sickle cell anemia, leukemia, or multiple myeloma, or for men whose penises are malformed.

2. Hormone Replacement Therapy

For elderly men who may be low in testosterone, testosterone replacement therapy may boost energy, mood, and bone density, and it may also enhance weight and muscular mass and heighten sexual desire, which in turn will be the cure for ED. If you have normal testosterone levels, then you do not need to take testosterone supplements because extra testosterone can cause prostate enlargement and other adverse effects, so, be careful of that.

Final Remarks

A medical professional can identify the cause of your ED and provide a diagnosis after they examine you physically and go over your medical history properly. Inquiries concerning your past sexual and personal interactions will also be made, and you should answer in detail because keeping it vague might cause a wrong diagnosis, and that is why it's critical to be truthful with your doctor. If you are going through an ED phase or constantly having this problem, you should see a doctor without delay.

Contact Medanta today and get checked by the best doctors who are skilled and possess credible experience in the management of erectile dysfunction!

Dr. Shashi Kumar
Renal Care
Meet The Doctor View Profile
Back to top