Erectile dysfunction information

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common medical causes known to man, as it affects a large number of people everywhere around the world. It can be easily characterized as an inability to achieve and maintain a penile erection which is required for a proper sexual intercourse. When a person becomes sexually aroused, the brain starts sending signals all the way to the nerves in the penis. The blood flow to the penis then gets increased, as the spongy tissues inside the penis get expanded and hardened.

Any factor which interferes with the nervous system and the blood circulation of a person may be held responsible for the onset of erectile dysfunction.

Causes

There are four different types of medical conditions which are associated with physical problems which lead to the development of erectile dysfunction. Those four types include anatomical, hormonal, neurogenic and vasculogenic conditions. Anatomical medical conditions are those who affect the physical structure of the penis. The best examples of such conditions include hypospadis (abnormal development of the urethra) and Peyronie’s disease.

Hormonal medical conditions are those who affect the normal balance of hormones inside the person’s body. Such medical conditions include hypothyroidism (insufficient production of thyroid hormone), hyperthyroidism (too much thyroid hormone), Cushing’s syndrome (affected production of cortisol) and hypogonadism which involves reduced levels of testosterone.

Neurogenic conditions are those which affect the spinal cord, the nerves and the brain. The best examples of those type of medical conditions include the stroke, tumors, spinal disorders, spinal injuries, Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis.

Vasculogenic medical conditions are those which involve the affected flow of blood to the penis. The best examples of such medical conditions include diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease.

There are also a large number of different types of medications which can be held responsible for the development of erectile dysfunction. Those include cytotoxics (for the prevention of the growth of cancer cells), antiandrogens (for the suppression of androgens), antihistamines (for the treatment of allergic reactions), anticonvulsants ( for the treatment of epilepsy), H2-antagonists (for stomach ulcers), corticosteroids, antidepressants (for the treatment of depression, antipsychotics, fibrates (for the lowering of cholesterol levels), antihypertensives and diuretics. There are also certain types of psychological causes of erectile dysfunction and the most common ones include anxiety and depression.

Emotional issues such as new relationships, past sexual abuse and sexual problems and a lack of sexual knowledge may also lead to erectile dysfunction. Other possible causes include drug abuse, alcohol abuse and tiredness.