|
 Erectile Dysfunction
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Diagnosing Erectile Dysfunction
Treating Erectile
Dysfunction
Causes
of erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by several factors. The
structure of the penis involves two cylindrical, sponge
like structures which run along the length of the penis. These
structures run parallel to the urethra, a tube through which
semen and urine travels. During sexual arousal, nerve impulses
increase the blood flow to the cylinders by approximately 7
times the amount when unaroused. The increased blood flow
expands the sponge like structures, producing an erection. As
arousal continues, so does the increased blood flow. This
keeps the erection firm. After the sexual arousal ends or
after ejaculation, the excess blood drains from the sponge
like tissues and the erection subsides.
This process involves arousal (sexual excitation), the
central nervous system (sexual arousal communicated to the
body) and the circulatory system (blood flow through blood
vessels into the penis). Any difficulties in any of
these processes or a combination of these processes can cause
erectile dysfunction.
There also exist nonphysical causes for erectile
dysfunction. The most common of these are stress, fatigue,
depression and anxiety. As well, relationship problems leading
to feelings of inadequacy or hostility can factor into
erectile dysfunction.
Other physical conditions can play a role. These
include cardiovascular disorders, medications, diabetic
neuropathy, surgical procedures, alcohol abuse, multiple
sclerosis, hormonal disorders, drug abuse and certain cancers.
In fact, erectile dysfunction may be one of the first signs of
an underlying medical problem.
It is frequently the case that both physical and psychological
factors interact to cause erectile dysfunction. One often
feeds off the other. Emotional problems can lead to physical
difficulties, and physical difficulties can contribute to
psychological problems.
For more information about
erectile dysfunction and it's treatment, read through the
Mayo Clinic's erectile dysfunction
pages. The
National Institutes of Health offers excellent
information
about erectile dysfunction and it's causes and treatments. |
