Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a sexual disorder, which happens in males. It is quite common among men of all ages. The only difference is that the reason for its occurrence can vary between the younger and older men. In general, the majority of younger males develop ED because of psychological reasons, whereas, older males, that is, men above 50 years of age may experience it because of some underlying physiological health condition and its symptoms might worsen because of psychological factors like stress, anxiety, or depression.
It is normal to experience difficulties with the erection function once in a while, however, if it happens quite frequently then it is a matter of concern. Frequent episodes of difficulties with the erection function can be a sign of erectile dysfunction. The indications or symptoms of erectile dysfunction are given below:
This can be attributed to psychogenic or physiological factors. Some may experience difficulties in getting sexually aroused, which can be the reason they are facing difficulties with the sexual response. Trouble in getting erections usually happens when the blood vessels of the penile fail to accommodate adequate blood to trigger stronger erections. This happens because of constricted blood vessels.
For an erection response, some sort of sexual stimulation and arousal is fundamental, that is when the blood flow to the penile increases. During arousal, the cavernous nerves of the penile trigger the release of a neurotransmitter chemical, known as nitric oxide in the inner walls of the penile blood vessels.
This neurotransmitter chemical conducts vasodilation in the penile, which allows more and more blood to flow to the penile. As more blood flows inside the penile blood vessels, it gets trapped under high pressure to maintain the erection. However, when this series of actions does not occur properly, one may struggle to get erections.
Lack of blood flow inside the penile blood vessels happens because of constrictions. The blood vessels become narrow and the blood flow inside them limits. Due to a lack of adequate blood, the blood vessels fail to trap enough blood inside, resulting in feeble erections or no erections at all.
For an erection to be sustained, the key requirements are arousal, release of nitric oxide in the walls of the blood vessels, vasodilation in the penile, and increase in the blood supply in the penile blood vessels.
Some men might lose their interest in sex owing to several reasons such as hormonal imbalances (low testosterone), chronic health conditions, old age, and side effects of medications. This symptom becomes quite common as men get older. With age, they tend to experience a decline in the levels of testosterone hormone, which is the primary sex hormone in males, and as a result, their sex drive or libido dwindles.
Erectile dysfunction can stem from physiological health conditions such as cardiovascular disorders, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, high blood sugar (diabetes), heart disease, kidney dysfunction, obesity, or Peyronie’s disease. All these are chronic health conditions that mainly affect your blood vessels, thereby potentiating your chances of developing erection dysfunction. Damaged blood vessels hinder blood circulation to the penile organ. Blood circulation is essential for a healthy erection function, but lack of it can make it difficult for an individual to get and maintain stronger erections.
Psychological factors contributing to ED
Factors that interfere with your sexual response include performance anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, chronic stress, guilt, etc. These factors lead to psychogenic erectile dysfunction. It can be managed by making several positive changes in the lifestyle. Doing some mindful meditative experiences, yoga, and leisure activities can ease these factors. In case it is difficult, you can see your therapist, who can help you in managing such psychological conditions.
An increase in the blood supply to the penile is necessary to get and sustain erections. The erection response is a result of a series of events, including arousal, release of nitric oxide, vasodilation in the penile, and increases in the blood flow in the penile. The erection function is affected in some individuals, which can be attributed to several health conditions that might be physiological or psychological in nature.