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We now know that erectile dysfunction is most Mechanical causes
commonly a result of damage to the blood vessels. Any deformity of the penis e.g. Pyeronies disease, which
Many of the risk factors for erectile dysfunction are the is a lump or hard plaque in the penis that causes it to
same as those for heart disease or strokes. Things like curve. Any tumours that affect the structure of the penis.
smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, physical
inactivity and being overweight. So the things that you Physical endurance
do to reduce your risk for cardiovascular disease will Any medical condition which has an impact on your
also help preserve your erectile function as you get energy levels and physical stamina can affect your
older.
erectile function. These may include:
• recovery after a heart attack.
You have probably heard that more than 50% of men • diseases affecting the lungs
over the age of 40 experience some degree of erectile • anaemia (insufficient red blood cells)
dysfunction at some point in their lives. That's a lot of • liver and kidney disease.
men so you definitely don't have to feel like a freak just • sleep disorders that result in fatigue.
because you can't get it up. The definition of erectile
dysfunction is:
“the inability to achieve or maintain an erection of Inflammatory causes
sufficient rigidity for satisfactory sexual activity” Inflammation of the urethra (tube through which urine &
Many men find that they can get an erection, but they semen is passed), the bladder or any of the tubes or
lose it some point during the proceedings. This can be 'plumbing' involved in sperm production and
really embarrassing and quite a “let-down” for your transportation or in urinating.
partner. We're not talking here about the few occasions
that you couldn't get it up because you were horribly Hormonal causes
drunk or just plain exhausted from work. It's a persistent Low testosterone levels cause a loss of sex drive and
or recurring problem and its critical to see a medical ED. It usually occurs in men from the age of 50 and is
doctor if happens to you, because it could be the first often associated with weight gain in the stomach area.
sign of a serious underlying medical condition like high Testosterone levels can be checked with a blood test
cholesterol or high blood pressure. ED is a predictor of that should be done in the morning befor 11am.
cardiovascular events, which means that men who have Other hormonal problems that can lead to ED include:
ED and don't get properly checked out and treated, are • high levels of prolactin
more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. • low or high levels of steroid hormones
• Low or high levels of thyroid hormone
Some of the other causes of ED are:
Medications
Psychological and relationship If you're put on any new medication and you start having
causes problems with your erections go back to your doctor, as
Not being able to get or maintain an erection can have a the medication may be the cause of the problem. Often
devastating impact on your self-esteem and can lead to it's simply a matter of switching meds. Here are some
performance anxiety. When you do start treatment for commonly used medications that can cause erection
ED it's important to remember than it may take a few problems.
attempts before you get back into the swing of things. • antihypertensives (blood pressure meds)
Relationship problems obviously have the potential to • antidepressants
cause erection problems. See a psychologist or • antipsychotics
sexologist if you intend staying in the relationship so that • antiandrogens (used to treat prostate cancer that
you can work through the issues with your partner. has spread)
Stress, anxiety and depression are all common causes • some recreational drugs and alcohol
of ED and also negatively impact on other areas of your
health. See your doctor or a psychologist as these Diabetes
conditions can be successfully treated. Men with diabetes are more likely to have cardiovascular
disease and nerve problems, both of which can cause
Neurological causes ED, so it's a double whammy. If you're diabetic and you
Stroke, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, want to preserve your erections you need to make sure
injuries and tumours to the brain or spinal cord, or any your diabetes is well controlled and that you're doing all
conditions which affect the nervous system can result in the things required to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
ED.
In the next issue we'll explain how erectile dysfunction is
Damage or removal of the nerves that are essential for treated.
erections as a result of surgery and/or radiation
treatments for prostate cancer are a common cause of
ED. Age and the quality of your erections before the
treatment are key factors that determine the likelihood of
good erections after treatment. The newest robotic
surgery used to perform a prostatectomy (removal of the
prostate) enables urologists to optimise nerve sparing
procedures when this is possible.

Nerve damage from trauma, e.g. a car accident.

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