Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the persistent difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance. It can have both physical and psychological causes, and it’s a common condition, particularly in men over 40. Yikes I'm almost there.
The three most common causes of ED are physical causes, psychological, and lifestyle factors. Physical culprits like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and some medications (antidepressants, blood pressure, etc). Psychological or emotional issues for example, stress, anxiety, depression, and relationship problems can also have a great impact on initiating intimacy. Lastly, poor lifestyle choices like smoking, alcohol, unbalanced diet, lack of exercise, and sleep can negatively impact this common dilemma.
Treatment includes lifestyle modifications like exercising, smoking cessation, healthy/balanced diet, meditation, etc. Medication route is always available including the well known Viagra, Cialis (and their generic equivalents), amongst others. Psychological support through counseling, therapy (self or/and couples) has shown favorable results. There is also an array of different herbal products with some supporting research. Last but not least, surgical intervention is available for severe cases.
Please consider talking to your doctor if ED occurs frequently or is impacting your quality of life, as it may be linked to an underlying health condition, also if you are experiencing other symptoms, such as reduced libido or fatigue. The stigma must stop to improve men's health. You are not alone.
