What causes erectile dysfunction?

Erectile Dysfunction

Sexual performance is a sensitive and private subject but educating yourself about issues such as erectile dysfunction is important. Knowing more about the causes of erectile dysfunction and the possible treatments can help you to improve the condition and get your confidence back.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Also known as impotence, erectile dysfunction occurs when a person with a penis is unable to achieve or sustain an erection. It can develop at any age, though it does tend to be more common the older you become. Symptoms of erectile dysfunction include:

• Inability or difficulty getting an erection
• Difficulty maintaining an erection
• Shame and anxiety about perceived sexual failures
• Reduced libido (desire for sex)

Erectile dysfunction interferes with the ability to complete sexual intercourse, and can co-occur with issues like premature ejaculation or delayed ejaculation. Failing to get or keep an erection can happen to anyone at any time, so it’s not always an indication of a medical problem.

However, if you’re persistently unable to achieve or maintain an erection, it’s likely that you have erectile dysfunction. If these symptoms have lasted for 3-6 months or more, then you should visit your doctor to discuss the issue, so they can try to determine what’s causing it.

How erectile dysfunction works

Sexual arousal is a complicated process, so a problem at any stage can affect erections. When triggered by sexual thoughts or contact with the penis, the brain signals the nerves to release chemicals that will increase the flow of blood into the penis.

There are two cylindrical chambers of spongy tissue in the penis (corpus cavernosa), which relax and trap the increased blood. The resulting blood pressure causes the penis to become rigid. Upon orgasm, these muscular tissues contract, releasing the accumulated blood.

An insufficient flow of blood to the penis, or blood failing to stay inside the penis, can prevent an erection or cause an erection to fail prematurely. This could happen due to a physiological issue with blood flow or the nervous system, or problems with your mental or emotional state.

Why erectile dysfunction occurs

Though there are many possible causes for erectile dysfunction (ED), the two main categories are physical and psychological. Erectile dysfunction is often a sign of cardiovascular problems, meaning that people with this condition are commonly at higher risk of heart attacks or strokes.

A common cause of ED is atherosclerosis, a hardening of the arteries resulting from lifestyle behaviours. Risk factors for developing ED include:

• Lack of exercise and obesity
• Hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes
• Smoking, taking drugs, drinking alcohol
• Trauma to the pelvic area (injury or surgery)
• Tissue scarring (e.g. Peyronie’s Disease), atrophy, or fibrosis
• Prescription drugs for chronic illness or chemotherapy treatments
• Hormone abnormalities (thyroid issues, low testosterone, steroid abuse, etc)
• Depression, anxiety, stress, performance anxiety

While a physical cause is often at the root of erectile dysfunction, it’s possible for the causes to be entirely psychological. However, there is usually a mix of physical and psychological elements in most cases of ED. Let’s take a look at the potential causes in more detail.

What are the physical causes of erectile dysfunction?