The physical, mental, social well-being and emotional state that is related to sexuality are called sexual health. Sexual disorders like erectile dysfunction are becoming very common for many reasons and multiple people are getting affected by these. Taking care of sexual lives is as important as taking care of the other health issues.

What do we mean by erectile dysfunction?

Inability to maintain and obtain an adequate erection for the purpose of intercourse is known as impotency or erectile dysfunction. If you are suffering from an erectile dysfunction very frequently then it should be a call for consulting your doctor. Long-term erectile dysfunction can create lower self-esteem, interpersonal problems, and stress. The problem in maintaining or obtaining an erection could be a sign of a more underlying serious health condition such as heart disease. So the erectile dysfunction can be reversed if the underlying cause is treated on time. Drugs or direct treatment might be required in a few circumstances.

What are the causes of Erectile Dysfunction?

In a male’s sexual desire, the hormones, nerves, brain, emotions, blood vessels, and muscles play a very important role. A problem with any of the above-mentioned issues can cause erectile dysfunction. An erectile problem can also arise or worsen due to mental health issues or stress.

A mixture of physiological and physical factors can also cause erectile dysfunction. Anxiety and stress about the persisting erection problem can worsen the problem even more. The most common physical factors due to which erectile dysfunction can be caused are:

• High BP (blood pressure) and cholesterol levels can lead to erectile dysfunction.
• CA (coronary artery) disease- Recent studies states that erectile dysfunction can also occur if a patient has a coronary disease.
• Obesity- One of the major reasons causing ED is excessive weight gain. Obese men generally have low sperm count and ED symptoms.
• Parkinson’s disease-Since Parkinson’s disease affects the central nervous system of the body it can often lead to ED in men.
• Damage or surgeries performed on the spinal cord or pelvic area- Severe injuries and surgeries in the pelvic region can also lead to ED.
• Multiple sclerosis- Since multiple Sclerosis disables the functions of the brain & spinal cord, it can also lead to ED in men.
• Excessive consumption of tobacco is one of the most common reasons for ED.
• Prescribed medications -Consuming high dosage medications might cause several side effects, one of them being ED.
• Addiction to drugs- Consumption of drugs damaged the nervous system of the body often leading to ED in men.
• Irregular sleep cycle- One needs an adequate amount of sleep to stay active in bed. Irregular sleep can cause ED in men due to a lack of energy.
• Enlargement of prostate or prostate cancer often leads to ED.
• Stress, anxiety and depression- ED is directly associated with mental health. If a person already has existing mental health issues like stress, anxiety or depression, he might be facing ED issues as well.
• Interpersonal relationship problems (might come from poor communication, the stress in the relationship, etc.).

How is erectile dysfunction treated?

Erectile dysfunction can be cured through psychological counselling and medications like Sildenafil which helps work by increasing the blood flow towards the penis at the time of sexual arousal. Drugs like Sildenafil help to maintain a stronger & longer erection and cause no side effects as such.