Erectile Dysfunction Causes

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• QCan diabetes cause erectile dysfunction (ED)?

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  A Taking Control Of Your Diabetes (TCOYD) answered

  About 1 in 5 American men have erectile dysfunction (ED) -- the inability to maintain an erection so that you can have sexual activity. If you are a man with diabetes, you are also more likely to have a lower sex drive, which increases your chance of having ED. A study of men aged 55 to 75 years old who had type 2 diabetes found that more than 70% of them had ED.

  Diabetes causes a variety of health problems, including ED. In fact, ED can be the first sign of diabetes. It can also be the first sign of heart disease and other illnesses. If you are having problems getting or keeping an erection, it’s important to tell your doctor so you can be checked for potentially serious illnesses. Also, erectile dysfunction can cause low self-esteem and lead to depression because of the effect it may have on intimate relationships.

  Men, their partners, and their doctors should have open conversations about ED. Most of the time, it can be corrected. Just as medical science has delivered many treatments for diabetes—such as pills, injections, and inhalers—it has delivered many for ED.

  If treatment is penile implant surgery, find a qualified surgeon and know your costs. Remember, if your surgery is not covered by insurance, look for surgery packages as a way to lower expenses.

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• QCan drinking alcohol cause erectile dysfunction?

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  A Univ. of Nev. School of Medicine, Family Medicine answered

  Yes, excessive alcohol intake can affect sexual function. Erectile dysfunction is more common in people who abuse drugs and alcohol. Lifestyle changes such as drinking less alcohol and quitting smoking may help improve sexual function. Chronic heavy alcohol consumption can affect erectile ability through altered hormone metabolism and nervous system involvement.

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• QDoes depression cause erectile dysfunction (ED)?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Men who are depressed often experience loss of libido (sexual desire) and have trouble getting and maintaining an erection. Erectile dysfunction (ED) is also a common side effect of some medications used to treat depression. It’s a good idea to talk to your doctor if you think you are depressed, or are taking an antidepressant and have experienced loss of sexual desire or have problems with sexual function.

• QDoes radiation therapy for prostate cancer cause erectile dysfunction?

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  A The Mount Sinai Health System answered

  Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a known side-effect of any therapy for prostate cancer. With radiation therapy initially erections are preserved, however, over time symptoms of ED may worsen as the damage to the nerves and blood vessels necessary for a sustained erection become apparent.

  In contrast, with nerve sparing radical prostatectomy (surgery) erections tend to be worse initially and improve over time. With our Smart-technique, potency is maintained in 80-85 percent of men. Overall 30-65 percent and 55-70 percent of patients receiving brachytherapy or “seeds” or external beam radiation, respectively, remain potent. Although it is impossible to be certain of sexual function following, it is important to discuss this possibility with your physician in order to have a thorough understanding of the possible side effect of therapy and the treatments available for erectile dysfunction.

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• QDoes surgery for prostate cancer cause ED?

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  A Sigma Nursing answered

  Surgery for prostate cancer can cause erectile dysfunction. Nerves that carry signals from the spine to the penis run very close to the prostate. Sometimes during surgery to remove cancer in and around the prostate, these nerves are damaged or destroyed. Although it is usually possible to avoid the nerves during surgery, surgeons may remove the nerves intentionally for fear that they may contain cancer cells that have spread from the prostate. Removing the nerves may prevent the cancer from spreading.

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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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• 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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