Causes of erectile dysfunction - why is impotence?

Erectile dysfunction is the worst thing for a man. Potential causes of impotence and methods of treatment are of particular interest. The factors leading to impotence are associated with both organic prerequisites and psychological state.

The main causes of impotence

The key and most common causes of impotence in men vary by age. If at 25 years old Erectile dysfunction is more often caused by disturbances in the psychological sphere, then after 40 years the roots of the problem should be looked for in the state of men's health.

At a young age

Medical statistics confirm: in modern conditions, young men, even 16 years old, are increasingly faced with problems of erectile function. In most cases, the causes of impotence in young men are psychogenic.

Decrease or complete loss of erection - consequence:

• Deep and repressed emotional trauma of puberty or childhood;
• Lack of sexual experience - more common in boys under 20;
• Unsuccessful sex;
• Failure expectation syndrome;
• Fear of infections;
• Fears of possible pregnancy;
• Professional and financial difficulties;
• Difficult relationship with a girlfriend;
• Constant exposure to stress and conflict situations;
• Lack of sleep and rest.

Also, young men at the age of 30 suffer from powerlessness as a result of the following reasons:

• Adherence to "harmful" foods;
• Abuse of cigarettes, alcohol, drugs;
• Lack of physical activity;
• The specifics of professional activity associated with the inhalation of harmful substances, prolonged exposure to cold, heat or high humidity.

Organic Causes of Male erectile dysfunction:

• Vascular diseases;
• Varicocele;
• Injury to the genitals;
• Endocrine pathologies that disrupt the balance of hormones;
• Infections of the genitourinary system;
• Development of benign or malignant tumors;
• Failures of the central nervous system;
• Overweight;
• Diseases of the spine.

In addition, an unexpected decrease in potency in young men can develop against the background of prolonged drug treatment or long-term use of anabolic steroids.

In older men

The main factor explaining erectile dysfunction in old age is a decrease in testosterone production that occurs for natural reasons. After 50 years, the level of the hormone can become critically low.

Exacerbates the decrease in androgen production:

• Sedentary tendencies;
• Excessive use of alcohol and tobacco.

Also, doctors identify the following causes of male impotence that occurs in middle and old age:

• Pathologies of the genitourinary system - prostate adenoma, prostatitis, urethritis, kidney disease;
• Overweight, negatively affecting blood vessels;
• Elevated cholesterol levels;
• Change in blood sugar norms;
• Long-term therapy with sedatives, tranquilizers, antihypertensive drugs;
• Endocrine system disorders;
• Chemotherapy;
• Damage to nerve fibers;
• Work in hazardous work for decades;
• Age-related emotional crises.

Causes of erectile dysfunction in men

Andrologists distinguish several varieties into which male impotence is divided. The causes vary and lie in different areas of a man's physical and psychological health.

Psychological

Psychogenic erectile dysfunction is more characteristic of young men, but older men are not immune from it either. The causes of psychological impotence are associated with psychosomatic mechanisms: in response to a number of stimuli that arise after emotional trauma, the nervous system reacts in a specific way.

Occurs for the following reasons:

• Negative attitude towards women. In the beginning, the resentment usually touches the partner, however, later it can spread to all women. Such an attitude provokes a friend's tactlessness or a joke about a man's abilities;
• Severe stress. Constant stay in difficult conditions that cause nervous overstrain triggers the body's defense mechanism. The psyche of a man is completely fixed on overcoming negative conditions, as a result of which the ability to conduct an intimate act is lost;
• Phobias and fears. They develop as a result of a bright, but negative event.They manifest themselves in the form of fear of the partner's pregnancy, fear of contracting infections, unwillingness to use contraceptives, failure expectation syndrome;
• Sexual trauma. It consists in the emergence of a stable connection between sexual intercourse and accompanying negative experiences. As a result, at the subconscious level, a man blocks even thoughts of an intimate relationship, and in a sex-friendly situation cannot achieve an erection;
• An overabundance of sex. In this case, the body does not have time to recover, and the man observes symptoms of erectile dysfunction;
• Increased motivation. Prolonged waiting for contact and excessive arousal can cause loss of erection before sexual intercourse;
• Ignoring a woman. If a partner is cold with a man, then the necessary emotional coloring of intimacy is lost. Against this background, sexual ability decreases;
• Lack of variety. Some men experience erectile dysfunction with repetitive and traditional sex. To avoid a decrease in potency, they need additional stimuli;
• Habit. Another category is characterized by addiction to a partner. For arousal, you need to smell it and feel the skin. As a result, the rest of the female representatives become uninteresting from an intimate point of view.

The specificity of the psychological decrease in potency is that each unsuccessful contact aggravates the situation. The mechanism of development of psychological erectile pathology:

• The appearance of the first signs of a disorder, the presence of which is constantly present in thoughts;
• Repetition of failure, prompting to look for diseases that cause disorders in the intimate sphere;
• Self-hypnosis, provoking the development of symptoms.

Vascular

Vascular impotence is the most common organic form of erectile dysfunction. The mechanism of development is a deterioration in the access of arterial blood to the genitals. At the same time, the venous outflow increases.

The reasons for the poor work of blood vessels are the development of a number of diseases or lifestyle features. Basic prerequisites:

• Hypertension. Leads to disruption of the structure of the vascular walls, resulting in impaired blood circulation;
• Diabetes mellitus. Negatively affects the male body as a whole, including the arteries;
• Diseases of the heart muscle. Disrupt normal blood flow, lead to a decrease in the filling of the corpora cavernosa;
• Atherosclerosis. Changes the blood circulation for the worse due to the accumulation of cholesterol on the walls of the arteries;
• Operations in the pelvic area. Sometimes they contribute to the appearance of venous shunts;
• Injuries. In case of blows and injuries to the groin and abdomen, vascular malfunction is possible.

Also, the state of the vascular system is affected by:

• Smoking;
• Spirits;
• Excessive amount of hot spices;
• Fried and fatty;
• Lack of sleep;
• Age;
• Hereditary tendency;
• Low physical activity.

Hormonal

Hormonal impotence occurs when there is a deviation in the ratio of androgens and estrogens, as well as prolactin in a man's body. Any fluctuation that changes the balance provokes a cascade of disorders, including a decrease in male strength.

The main causes of hormonal erectile dysfunction are the development of endocrine pathologies. Among them:

• Diabetes mellitus, provoking a change in the balance of hormones, as well as disruption of the work of blood vessels and nerve fibers;
• High concentration of prolactin in the blood. An increase in the amount of this hormone leads to a decrease in testosterone levels, which are responsible for libido and erection;
• Deficiency or excess of thyroid hormones. Launches a chain of reactions, resulting in an increase in prolactin and a decrease in testosterone;
• Increased estrogen levels. Excess estradiol causes erectile dysfunction.

Testosterone is an androgen that regulates sexual function. In 15% of cases, the cause of impotence in men is a deficiency of this hormone. In addition to endocrine pathologies, the level of its concentration is influenced by dietary habits, physical and sexual activity, and daily regimen.

Spinal

Spinal impotence is also called spino-cortical. It occurs as a result of disruption of the neurological centers located in the lumbar spine.

Depending on the severity of signs of erectile dysfunction, the form is divided into the following types:

• With preservation of excitability of the center of erection and ejaculation;
• With hyperexcitability of both centers;
• With oppression of the erection center;
• With increased erection excitability while reducing the work of ejaculation.

The causes of Spinal impotence:

• Brain damage;
• Excessively prolonged acts of intimacy;
• Constant masturbation;
• Erection without subsequent intimacy;
• Infections, particularly tuberculosis or syphilis;
• Lumbar injury with spinal cord injury;
• Syringomyelia;
• Various forms of sclerosis;
• Formations of various origins in the spinal cord;
• Myelitis;
• Coitus interruptus;
• Paralysis;
• Intoxication affecting the brain.

What is the difference between temporary and absolute impotence?

In terms of severity, impotence can be temporary or absolute. The difference between them is that the last form of erectile dysfunction in men is characterized by:

• Loss of libido;
• Lack of all forms of erection, including spontaneous and morning erections.

If we are talking about absolute impotence, then the cause of male impotence is a serious organic or psychological disease. To start therapy, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination and treat, first of all, the underlying disease.

What other factors can lead to powerlessness?

Smoking and alcohol, along with stress and physical illness, are key factors in causing impotence. The reasons also lie in the sexual sphere itself. Abstinence or frequent masturbation is still the subject of controversy regarding their effect on male potency.

According to some reports, giving up sex for more than 30 days affects a man's health as follows:

• Erection interruptions begin;
• Decreases the need for sex on an emotional level;
• Increased likelihood of early ejaculation;
• Fertility decreases;
• Fear of intimacy with a woman is forming;
• The psychological background is destabilizing;
• Increased risk of prostatitis and BPH (benign prostatic hyperplasia) after 40 years;
• After 50 years, complete impotence is possible.

The opinion of doctors regarding male masturbation is as follows: it is not masturbation itself that is dangerous, but frequent self-gratification without sex. This brings up:

• Change in sexual behavior;
• Decreased potency;
• Development of neuroses in a severe form, which also negatively affects erectile function;
• Increased risk of varicocele.

It is possible to avoid the development of impotence by observing the rules of a healthy diet and lifestyle. Diseases leading to erectile dysfunction must be treated early, so annual screening is an important aspect of prevention.