Erectile Dysfunction Causes

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• QWhat type of hormonal problems lead to erectile dysfunction?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Many hormonal problems can lead to erectile dysfunction. Among the most common is a deficiency in testosterone. Low testosterone can be caused by injury to the testicles (either from an accident or from cancer treatment), cancer, diabetes, HIV/AIDS, liver disease, kidney disease and obesity.
  
  Some genetic conditions can reduce testosterone production, and so can some medications. Another cause of erectile function can be too much of the hormone prolactin. This is most often caused by a tumor on the pituitary gland. Also some kinds of thyroid disease may disrupt hormones in a way that leads to erectile dysfunction.

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• QDoes radiation therapy for prostate cancer cause erectile dysfunction?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Erectile dysfunction is a common side effect of radiation therapy for prostate cancer. This side effect may also stem from the surgery itself. Unfortunately, radiation treatment is not precise enough to destroy only cancer cells. It often damages cells nearby, including cells in the nerves that carry signals to the penis causing an erection. Talk to your doctor about possible treatments.

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• QIs erectile dysfunction the result of heart disease?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  It sure can be. Most cases of erectile dysfunction (ED) have physical causes, and the most common ones are cardiovascular. Your blood needs to flow well, so your penis can get hard and stay that way long enough to have satisfying sex. The same cardiovascular problems that can lead to heart disease just might affect your penis first. These include high blood pressure and high blood cholesterol levels. Think of your penis as a health dipstick. It’s your early warning system. If you are having problems with blood flow down below, it’s a wakeup call to pay more attention to your cardiovascular health. See your doctor to check out your heart’s health. It is certainly possible that your ED is the result of other causes, but a cardiovascular problem is the most common cause.

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• QWhat should I do if I can't achieve or maintain an erection?

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  A Good In Bed answered

  It can take a lot of courage to seek help for erectile issues. Some men may get help on their own, and others may go with their partner for support and to work through the issue together.
  
  If a man thinks something may physically be wrong, it can be helpful to see a doctor. Making an appointment to see a urologist to do some general tests can help narrow down or rule out the cause.
  
  If the cause may be psychological in nature, it's helpful to see a sex counselor or sex therapist. In general, sex counselors and sex therapists tend to get specific training about sexual issues that sabotage sexual satisfaction, like erectile issues. It is important to find a counselor or therapist who is certified by the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists (AASECT). As, experts with this certification have had training related to both relationship issues and sexual concerns.
  
  A sex coach can also help individuals and couples. They tend to work on issues in the present, and through communication and home activities help get to the root of the issue providing education, support and guidance for an individual or couple to set and reach their goals. In regard to erectile issues, when the cause is not deeply psychological in nature, coaching can be helpful. Since many people can call themselves a "coach," it is best to find one that has a graduate or doctoral degree in human sexuality and certification from AASECT as a sexuality educator, counselor or therapist.

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• QHow can surgery result in erectile dysfunction?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Surgery can be a cause of erectile dysfunction. Sometimes surgery in an area near the penis damages nerves that carry the signals that cause an erection. Among the kinds of surgery where this might happen are surgery for prostate cancer, bladder cancer, colon cancer and cancer of the rectum.
  
  Advances in technique are allowing surgeons to avoid these nerves more often. But in the case of prostate cancer, sometimes the surgeon intentionally destroys the nerves for fear that the cancer has already spread to them. Surgery around the penis can also cause erectile dysfunction because the discomfort or worry causes a man to lose interest in sex.

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• QCan blood pressure medications cause erectile dysfunction?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  Yes, and there’s the rub. High blood pressure, especially if untreated, can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED). So can medications your doctor prescribes to bring down your high blood pressure. Fortunately, not all meds cause ED. Thiazides, diuretics or “water pills,” are common ED culprits. So are beta blockers. These effective heart meds slow your system down, and also affect blood flow where you need it -- in your penis -- at the right time. Alpha blockers, another class of medications that lower high blood pressure, are less likely to cause ED. So talk with your good doc about medication choices and side effects, so you can choose the right med for you.

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• QCan over-the-counter (OTC) antihistamines cause erectile dysfunction?

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  A Dr. Arthur R. Crowley, MD , Urology, answered

  Antihistamines (for example, Benadryl, Dramamine, Phenergan, Vistaril, Zantac) are used to treat many conditions including: allergic symptoms and itchiness, the common cold, motion sickness, insomnia, and extrapyramidal symptoms (for example, anxiety, restlessness). Regardless whether over-the-counter (OTC) or by prescription, as a side effect, antihistamines can cause or contribute to erectile dysfunction (ED). If you experience ED and believe it is the result of a medication, do not stop taking the medication. You should first contact your doctor or healthcare provider. It may be possible to alter the medication or change the dosage.
• QWhat causes erectile dysfunction (ED)?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  As you might have guessed, a lot of research has been done on what causes erectile dysfunction, and, as is the case with cancer, heart disease, and so many other conditions, there isn't one single factor to blame. Rather, many things can cause the erectile rocket boosters not to fire—including hormone problems, trauma to the area (like that caused by poor-fitting bicycle seats, which block off the blood supply to the penis), alcohol, some prescription drugs, and obesity.
  
  But the biggest cause of erectile problems is fleeting levels of nitric oxide due to vascular disease. The way blood flows throughout your body (which is largely determined by the hardening of your arteries) determines your body's ability to maintain and sustain an erection. In fact, erectile disorders are actually precursors of heart problems, so if you or your partner is experiencing erectile problems, it's important to seek treatment, not just to improve what happens when you're lying down in bed but also to make sure that the next time you're lying down isn't on a surgeon's table.

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• QCan work stress lead to erectile dysfunction?

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  A Dr. Michael Roizen, MD , Internal Medicine, answered

  There once was a time, long before Viagra (sildenafil) was on the market and erectile dysfunction (ED) commercials dominated airwaves during football games, when doctors thought ED was caused by stress and anxiety. Imagine! We now know that about 75% of all ED cases have a physical cause, usually arterial disease that can be treated. And satisfying sex requires your mind and body to work together like Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen did.
  If you already have ED, pressure at work, relationship problems, and other life stresses can make having an erection more difficult by causing anxiety about sexual performance. Worrying about your erection is as detrimental to your fun as being grounded was back in the day. This is where drugs such as Viagra can really help. They provide a long-lasting, firm erection that isn’t affected by your stress level. So, talk to your doctor about it, set up a romantic evening for you and your partner, and enjoy the non-physical part of a great union as well!
• QHow do chemicals in drugs cause erectile dysfunction?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Some medications contain chemicals that can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) by blocking nerve impulses to the penis, decreasing blood flow to the penis needed for an erection, or lowering testosterone levels. In other cases, chemicals in drugs can decrease your libido, or sex drive.
  
  If you think your medication is causing you problems getting or maintaining an erection or has diminished your desire for sex, don’t stop taking it without talking to your doctor first. You may be given a different dose or switched to another medication. The doctor may also prescribe treatment to improve your sex drive and sexual function, or may talk to you about ways to change your sexual routine to increase satisfaction.