You're not alone
If you suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), you're not alone. Approximately 94 million men worldwide - including over 30 million American men - are affected by ED.
There are many factors that contribute to erection and ejaculation. Physical and mental stimulants, hormones, neural transmissions and feedback, muscle contractions and relaxations, and cardiovascular blood flow all work together to create and maintain an erection leading to ejaculation. When any of these processes are disrupted, it can cause erectile dysfunction (ED). In 90% of cases, there are physical causes.
The most common physical causes of ED are:
- Diabetes - One of the most common causes of ED. Nerves or blood vessels that control the flow of blood to the penis may become permanently damaged as a result of diabetes. Damage to either can lead to ED.
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- Surgery - Surgery that interrupts blood flow or inhibits nerve function may result in ED. The most common surgical causes of ED are removal of the prostate; bowel, bladder or urethral surgeries; or spinal surgeries.
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- Cardiovascular Disease - Vascular problems, such as hardening of the arteries, can slow the blood flowing into the penis, making it difficult to get or keep an erection. (Since this affects the small vessels before it affects the bigger vessels, finding an ED problem could signal the presence of a cardiovascular disease.)
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- Drug Therapies - Medications, including some prescriptions for high blood pressure, depression, and a number of other conditions, may cause ED by interfering with the nerve impulses or blood flow to the penis. Important: Medications should never be changed without your doctor's permission. Talk to your doctor about any concerns you have regarding the potential effects of medication on ED.
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- Alcoholism and Smoking - Alcoholism disrupts hormone levels and can lead to permanent nerve damage, causing impotence. Smoking may lead to vascular disease or other health problems, which may cause ED.
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- Hormone Problems - Certain diseases, such as kidney failure and liver disease can disrupt the balance of hormones, which control erections. Low levels of testosterone can also be a factor.
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- Physical or Neurological Trauma - ED can result from physical or neurological trauma to the body. These include pelvic fracture, spinal cord injuries, brain injuries or tumors, stroke, birth defects or muscular diseases.
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- Priapism - If an erection lasts longer than four hours, it can cause tissue injury, which will result in ED. Causes of priapism include sickle cell anemia, injection therapy for ED that is improperly prescribed or used; illegal drug use or misuse of medications such as Viagra.
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- Effects of Aging - It is estimated that 65 percent of men over age 65 have some type of ED. Statistically, the number of men experiencing ED rises as their age increases. However, age alone does not cause ED. It is simply that older men are more likely to have the illnesses and treatments (such as prostate surgery) that can cause ED.
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