10 Things That Cause Erection Problems

When it comes to erection problems, men are often hesitant to discuss the matter with their partners or even their doctors. However, millions of men confront erectile difficulties, and there shouldn’t be anything embarrassing or awkward about discussing this medical condition with your doctor and availing yourself of help. In fact, there are several simple things you can do to improve your erectile ability, just as there are many hidden factors that can impact your sexual response.

Here are the top-ten health factors that can impact your erections: 

Your erections are linked to your body’s circulation. When your circulation is healthy, you will be more likely to achieve and maintain erections without difficulty. However, when circulation is impeded, the circulation to your genitals will be decreased as well — and that could lead to erectile difficulty.

Diabetes has been shown to impact erectile function in many men. This is because the condition can negatively impact your health from your hormones to your weight to your energy levels, all of which are tied to erectile ability. 

A recent study found that 49 percent of men with high blood pressure reported that they also struggle with erectile ability. As mentioned earlier, healthy circulation is a must for healthy erections, and high blood pressure can impair strong blood flow to the penis. 

Depression can negatively impact a man’s erectile ability on both a physical and mental level. Antidepressants have been shown to decrease libido and complicate sexual response; not to mention, you might not be in a positive or confident mood due to your depression. When you feel like you don’t even want to get out of bed in the morning, it can be hard to be in the mood for any type of activity, even sex.  

Obesity can cause problems with erectile function for many reasons. Your circulation, hormones, and energy are all negatively impacted by excess weight, and these are all key components of healthy erectile function. But there is good news: A recent Australian study found that obese men who lost just 5 percent to 10 percent of their body weight were able to improve their sexual function. While losing weight takes effort, even dropping just a few pounds can do wonders for your physical health and your sex life.

From alcoholism to drug abuse, unhealthy choices hamper your erectile function. Not only will your mood and your relationships be troubled by addiction, but your body will suffer, as will your erections, from the effects of alcohol and certain drugs. The same is true for smoking: Numerous studies have linked nicotine to decreased erectile function. Just another reason to kick butt!

Sexual response can be complicated by a number of medications. As mentioned above, antidepressants can impact libido and erectile function, and diuretics, muscle relaxants, antihistamines, and high blood pressure drugs can also impair erections. Talk to your doctor about possible sexual side effects from your medications, and find out if there are other options that have milder side effects.  

Some procedures can lead to erectile dysfunction, and treatments such as prostate-cancer surgery can negatively impact your ability to achieve and maintain your erections. Talk to your doctor about measures you can take to improve erectile function and research all of your treatment options. 

Stress can cause erectile difficulty because it can leave you physically and emotionally drained at the end of the day. Work off stress by exercising and by committing to a healthy lifestyle, and keep job stress to a minimum at home by shutting off your BlackBerry or by having a “no work talk” rule on date night. 

Sexual-performance drugs such as Viagra can help improve circulation throughout the body, including to the genitals. In doing so, they can improve a man’s ability to create and maintain erections. There are also surgical options such as penile implants or nonsurgical options such as penile vacuums that work by drawing blood from the body into the penis, thereby creating an erection. Ultimately, you should talk to your doctor to find out which options are best for you, but remember, a healthy lifestyle can often lead to healthy erectile function!