When the difficulty of having an erection is regular, even systematic, we speak of erectile dysfunction. Beyond the embarrassment caused by this situation, it is sometimes a first symptom of a much more serious pathology.
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A more common problem than you might think, erectile insufficiency can affect men’s sexual and romantic relationships. Who suffers from it? What are the most common causes? The editorial staff of Futura answers you.
What is erectile insufficiency?
Those are erection problems. They can develop with age (we notably notice an increase after the age of 40) but can also be chronic. Different from occasional failure, erectile dysfunction (ED) is an actual inability to get or keep an erection during sex. Consequences: sexuality is no longer fulfilling, couple relationships deteriorate, some men enter a state of psychological distress…
What can be the causes of erectile dysfunction?
Several factors can be the cause of a decrease in desire and erectile insufficiency.
- Age first. According to theFrench Association of Urology which relays a study carried out in the USA, 52% of men (aged 40 to 70) have difficulty getting an erection.
- A poor lifestyle can also explain this phenomenon of impotence. Alcohol, tobacco, food too sweet…
- Mental health is also one of the possible factors to explain a loss of libido. Stress, depression, anxiety, difficulties related to sexual life… The causes are sometimes psychological.
Why and when should a doctor be consulted?
Even if, at first glance, this dysfunction primarily affects the quality of life of the men who suffer from it, this disorder can also be a harbinger of a more serious health problem. Instead of having recourse to drugs to stimulate the mechanism of erection, it is preferable to consult a doctor who will discard, by means of examinations for example, all the hypotheses to find the plausible cause or causes.
Persistent erectile dysfunction to be the first red flag of an underlying health problem:
- diabetes which affects the blood circulation and therefore the blood supply in the penis could be the explanation;
- this is also the case with cardiovascular diseases because, for the same reason, the blood circulation does not irrigate certain parts of the body as it should;
- a Prostate cancer can also be detected during examinations.
Erectile dysfunction can hinder couple relationships, the well-being of men or even reveal a pathology. From the moment these difficulties in having an erection last for more than three months, it is advisable to speak to a doctor. Note that it is also possible to consult a sexologist remotely (by chat, telephone or videoconference), in particular to diagnose the origin of this insufficiency: is it above all psychological or rather pathological?
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