male impotence info

Are many cases due to psychological causes?

Yes, particularly in the young. In general, erectile dysfunction is quite likely to be psychological rather than physical if the man:

• is still waking with morning erections
  
  
• can still get a good erection by masturbation.
  
  

Common psychological causes of erection difficulties include:

• nerves - especially about performing
  
  
• guilt - notably if you’re trying to have sex with somebody else’s wife
  
  
• relationship problems - especially if you’re no longer keen on your partner
  
  
• latent gayness - for instance, if you’re a basically gay guy, trying to have sex with a woman
  
  
• depression
  
  
• exhaustion.
  
  

In a lot of cases, ED turns out to be due to a mixture of psychological and physical causes.

What physical causes are there?

Common physical causes include:

• deterioration of the arteries – this is a physical change which is common in older men, including those with high blood pressure
  
  
• diabetes
  
  
• smoking
  
  
• excessive drinking (hence the phrase ‘Brewer’s droop’)
  
  
• being obese and out-of-condition
  
  
• side-effects of certain drugs, notably ones for blood pressure and depression
  
  
• effects of recreational drugs, like cocaine.
  
  

Less common physical causes include:

• excessive drainage of blood from the penis (‘venous leak’)
  
  
• diseases of the nervous system
  
  
• injury to the spinal cord
  
  
• major surgery in the abdomen, particularly prostate operations
  
  
• hormone problems, including excess production of a pituitary hormone called prolactin.