What Are The Top 5 Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction? – Erectile dysfunction(ED) is the inability to have a consistent erection for sexual performance. ED is a common condition that affects the livelihood of many aged men. One study found that 49.9% of males over 40 have erectile dysfunction.
Sometimes, erectile dysfunction is a symptom or a cause of another disease but it has the same effects on psychological and social health. It lowers self-esteem, can lead to stress, and cause relationship problems. Understanding the symptoms, prevention, and treatment of erectile dysfunction can save many marriages, boost self esteem for men and improve the sexual livelihood of many men suffering in silence.
How Erectile Dysfunction Occurs
When erectile dysfunction occurs, the brain is barred from communicating with the body in its natural process of establishing an erection. Some of the causes include:
- Inadequate blood flow to the penis
- Wrong signals sent from the brain to the penis due to nervous problems
- Damaged erectile tissue due to an operation, especially for prostate cancer patients.
Who Is At Risk?
Old-aged men are the most vulnerable and face a high risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction. Other risk factors may include medical conditions like diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure. Unhealthy behavior like drug abuse and trauma from surgery can also cause ED.
Although older men above the age of 40 are the most predisposed to erectile dysfunction, young people may also experience ED. Research shows 8% of men between 20-29 years and 11% of men between 30-39 years experience mild erectile dysfunction. The same study shows that the number of young men taking ED medication has increased over time.
Causes Of Erectile Dysfunction
Physical, psychological, and medical conditions can cause some ED symptoms. They include:
Physical Causes:
- Stroke
- Chronic kidney disease
- Hypogonadism
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Diabetes
- Nerve disorders
Psychological Causes:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Feeling nervous about sex
Certain Medicines:
- Blood pressure medicines
- Appetite suppressants
- Antidepressants
- Antiandrogens
- Tranquilizers and sedatives
- Ulcer medicines
Symptoms Of Erectile Dysfunction
Symptoms of ED may vary from patient to patient. Here are the top five symptoms that you should watch out for:
1. Reduced Sexual Desire
When the mind and body fail to communicate to achieve a successful erection, the brain releases chemical messages that shut off any sexual desires. Without sexual desires, the libido drops and causes a lack of interest in sexual engagement.
2. Challenges Getting A Firm Erection Throughout Intercourse
The penis needs to be firm to achieve sufficient penetration. Men with erectile dysfunction fail to have a consistent erection due to restricted blood flow caused by conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes.
3. Trouble Getting An Erection All The Time
When severe erectile dysfunction affects a man, the penis loses its ability to get an erection. Sometimes this cannot be reversed, but with penile implants, the penis can be given a little boost.
4. Getting An Erection Sometimes And But Not When You Want To Have Sex
Another indicator that occurs is an erection that happens without arousal, but when it comes to penetration, the penis fails to erect. This dysfunction is a common form of erectile dysfunction symptom that could be caused by depression or stress.
5. Anorgasmia
Anorgasmia is the inability to achieve orgasm even after ample arousal. However, Anorgasmia affects sexual desire and sexual performance; this causes anxiety and sexual dissatisfaction, and frustration, leading to low sex drive and erectile dysfunction.
Primary anorgasmia affects a man from the beginning of active sexual life, while secondary anorgasmia occurs after a period of normal sexual experience.
How to Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
Many men ignore the symptoms of erectile dysfunction because it is a sensitive matter to discuss. But it is advisable to visit a urologist for tests and treatment if you experience the above symptoms or visit https://getsmarted.co/.
But there are preventive measures that can help men avoid erectile dysfunction and live a healthy sexual life. They include:
- Manage lifetime diseases like diabetes and heart disease
- Regular exercise
- Watch your weight
- Maintain a healthy diet
- Control and manage your stress
- Consult experts when you are experiencing depression or anxiety
- Avoid smoking, heavy alcohol intake, and hard drugs
Conclusion
While erectile dysfunction is common in older men, you can avoid its effects by living a healthy lifestyle. Modern research has also improved treatment for erectile dysfunction. Penile implants, for instance, have solved ED problems for men with severe erectile dysfunction
Individuals experiencing ED should understand that it affects men more when they choose to die in silence.
Men should be encouraged to talk about the challenges affecting their sexual health with their partners. Understanding the symptoms of erectile dysfunction is the first step towards treatment. Creating awareness and normalizing checkups with urologists can also reduce stigma and solve a healthy and productive population.
Helpful References
https://www.everydayhealth.com/erectile-dysfunction/
https://www.healthline.com/health/erectile-dysfunction#_noHeaderPrefixedContent
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5313296/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4336024/#b1-cuaj-1-2-23