Intimate experiences with a partner are usually central to progressing a relationship and having increased feelings of connection, trust and love. These activities should be moments of bliss, of feeling entirely comfortable in each other’s presence, and ones that you can truly lose yourself in. However, for many couples, bedroom intimacy isn’t as plain sailing and picturesque as Hollywood might make it out to be. It’s one thing figuring out if you’re emotionally on the same page, and as keen as each other to push your boundaries of sexual exploration, but it’s another ball game when you’re wrestling with stubborn ‘equipment’. During puberty and adolescence, most boys can obtain erections easily, often just from thinking briefly about something sexual. As we grow and develop into adult men, we tend not to get erections as spontaneously, but nonetheless can obtain one when a sexual encounter is on the cards. However, all too common is the inability to get hard when desired, a condition known as erectile dysfunction, which can really get in the way of a fulfilling sexual experience / relationship, and can complicate what ought to be one of life’s great pleasures.
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a sexual health condition affecting those with a penis, in which complications prevent an erection from being achieved and maintained, meaning sex is unable to be completed. Sometimes referred to as impotence, it can be an emotionally stressful condition to have, particularly due to the sensitive nature of personal issues regarding the genitals, making it difficult to talk about openly. For this reason, men who have erectile dysfunction often don’t get treated for the condition, although treatment is effective and widely available.
ED is the most common sexual disorder in men, so there is no need to feel embarrassed about being one of many to suffer from the condition. With that said, there is also no need to let ED dictate your love life to you, and reading this article to understand how it works and what you can do about it should help.
What causes erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is often troubling because it can be caused by so many factors and so might be hard to pinpoint your particular reason. Before we jump into the risk factors, let’s break down what erectile dysfunction physically is. Usually, when aroused, enzymes signal greater blood flow to go to the penis to enable an erection. After sex is complete, different enzymes then signal for the blood flow to slow down to the penis, causing the erection to subside. In men with erectile dysfunction, a range of physical or emotional factors might be preventing sufficient blood flow to the penis to begin with, or the enzyme to stop the erection is released too early, meaning you go flaccid before completing intercourse.
Many people think that erectile dysfunction is entirely a mental condition that’s all in the head, and that it’s stage fright and anxiety that prevents you from getting it up. Whilst this may be the case for a certain few people, 80% of diagnosed ED cases are a result of an underlying physical health condition that is in some way preventing sufficient blood flow.
For ED caused by physical conditions, one of the common culprits is other medication. If you have ED and are using either antidepressants (SSRIs), DHT blockers, beta blockers, or hormone medications, there’s a chance that these medications are causing your condition as a side effect. If this is the case, the best thing to do is to talk to your doctor about it openly, and they should advise you on alternative doses or treatment options. Other physical causes include health conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease. In these cases, individuals will find that they are unable to get an erection at any time, as the body is physically inhibited.
In psychological instances, it is likely that the sufferer is able to get erections, either in their sleep / when they wake up, or during self-pleasure. However, it is in the presence of a partner during sex that they are unable to get an erection, likely due to anxiety, stress, depression, relationship issues, or some sexual/emotionally/physical trauma, often suffered through childhood.
How can I treat erectile dysfunction?
There is no medicine that can be taken to entirely cure erectile dysfunction quickly. If you want to naturally solve erectile dysfunction, and you’re not already over the age of 50, then you should work on reducing your weight and improving overall fitness, as this will get the blood flowing better throughout the body, and help your general health. This is not a quick fix however, but thankfully quick fixes are available in the form of affordable, clinically proven medication. Such treatment contains a PDE-5 inhibitor, a type of vasodilator that expands the blood vessels in soft tissue (like the penis) and allows for better blood flow. It also works by preventing the erection-stopping enzymes from being released too early.
To browse a range of effective treatment from a regulated pharmacy, and to learn more about health conditions, visit Pharmica today.