Erectile dysfunction is a constant companion in many German bedrooms. Around one in ten men does not experience a satisfying sexual act because his penis does not stiffen sufficiently or the erection only lasts a short time. Yet despite its frequency, erectile dysfunction, also known as impotence or erectile dysfunction, is still a taboo subject. But what can trigger erectile dysfunction, what are typical symptoms and how can it be prevented?
What is erectile dysfunction?
The hallmark of erectile dysfunction or erectile dysfunction is that the penis does not become erect at all, not sufficiently or not long enough, so that the sexual act cannot be performed or can only be performed incompletely. However, the transition from normal erectile function to erectile dysfunction is not clearly defined. Especially with increasing age, many men need more pronounced and longer stimuli for an erection to occur. Erectile dysfunction or colloquially impotence (obsolete: impotentia coeundi) is common and increases with age. In young men aged 20 to 30, erectile dysfunction occurs in about two percent. From the age of 60, about a quarter to half of men are affected, but the frequency increases from the age of 40. These figures are estimates, since not every man with erectile dysfunction also visits a doctor. The fact is, however, that erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual disorder for which a consultation is sought. The causes are manifold. They can be psychological or physical, often there is also a mixture of several factors.
Erectile dysfunction – causes
With a good two-thirds, a large proportion of erectile dysfunction is due to physical causes. Nevertheless, the psyche almost always plays an important role as one of the causes: even if it is not the primary trigger, it can set in motion a vicious cycle in which fears of failure reinforce impotence, which in turn feeds fears of the next failure.
Physical causes of erectile dysfunction
First among the causes of erectile dysfunction are circulatory problems related to cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, followed by diabetes. Aggravating factors for these causes are:
- Dyslipidemia
- Smoking
- Overweight
- Lack of exercise
Other physical causes of impotence include:
- Surgery, especially for prostate cancer and bladder cancer.
- Injuries
- Chronic renal insufficiency
- Diseases of the spine
- Hormonal disorders (especially testosterone deficiency).
- Nervous diseases, especially multiple sclerosis
Some medications and alcohol abuse can also trigger erectile dysfunction. Incidentally, until now, many researchers have assumed that bicycle saddles can contribute to erectile dysfunction: When sitting on a bicycle, the body weight would put a lot of stress on the area between the anus and the external genitals, thereby constricting the blood supply and conduction of excitation to the penis. However, a large-scale University of California study published in 2018 appears to refute these assumptions: The roughly 4,000 subjects did not experience any deterioration in sexual function as a result of cycling compared with control groups.
Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction
Purely psychological causes of erectile dysfunction are present in about a quarter of cases: for example, performance pressure and stress, relationship conflicts, lack of self-confidence, unfulfilled sexual preferences, and also psychological disorders such as anxiety disorders and depression.
What is erectile dysfunction? Typical symptoms
Erectile dysfunction is when sexual desire (libido) is present in a man, but an erection is not achieved, or cannot be maintained long enough to perform the act. Erectile dysfunction may well occur for a limited period of time. An erectile dysfunction according to medical definition is present if in the course of half a year in circa 70 percent of the attempts no sufficient erection develops.
Erectile dysfunction as a symptom of other conditions
A wide variety of muscles, nerves, blood vessels and hormones are involved in an erection.For this reason, it is quite possible that erectile dysfunction may be the first sign of a serious disorder such as diabetes, coronary heart disease or arteriosclerosis with danger to the heart and brain. Therefore: even if it is difficult, if you have erectile dysfunction, you should consult your family doctor or a urologist. Check with our self-test whether you may have erectile dysfunction.
Tips for preventing erectile dysfunction.
Often the impression is created that in the case of erectile dysfunction, the hands of those affected are already tied in advance. Nevertheless, there are measures for prevention to avoid having to struggle with impotence in the first place. The following are some tips for preventing erectile dysfunction. Men can do a few things to prevent erectile dysfunction from occurring in the first place:
- Balanced diet and achieve normal weight.
- Alcohol only in moderation
- Refrain from smoking
- Regular exercise
- Balanced lifestyle with a good balance of stressful times and periods of regeneration
Such a healthy lifestyle reduces the risk of impotence, also because it simultaneously prevents other risk factors such as arteriosclerosis, hypertension and diabetes. If such diseases already exist, they must be adequately treated – so that problems with impotence do not arise in the first place or a slight erectile dysfunction does not become permanent erectile dysfunction. In addition, one should also avoid the dangers that may arise from aids purchased in sex stores or potency pills bought on the Internet.
