| Problems of achieving a satisfactory erection are fairly | | | | caused by psychological factors. Psychological causes |
| common. If the problem does not originate from lack of | | | | of erection problems include: |
| lust and is great enough to make normal intercourse | | | | - Anxiety for not being able to perform sexually as |
| impossible, the condition is called erectile dysfunction | | | | well as the partner demands. |
| (impotence). Erection problems are caused by | | | | - Prolonged emotional upset, such as worrying, anxiety |
| combined physical and psychological factors. | | | | or anger due to a man's economical, professional or |
| THE ERECTION MECHANISM | | | | social situation. |
| The penis has three bodies containing a dense | | | | - Relationship problems, for example when the woman |
| network of blood vessels along all its length. During | | | | has different preferences of sexual practice than the |
| erection blood is filled into the vessels of these bodies. | | | | man. |
| The bodies then engorge, make the penis hard and | | | | - A man who looses sexual desire for his partner may |
| rise it up. The filling of these bodies occur when the | | | | develop erection problems. |
| vessels leading blood to the penis relax and vessels | | | | - Recently widowed men can get erection problems. |
| draining the penis constrict their volume. | | | | - Some men have difficulty having sexual intercourse |
| Before and during erection nerves lead impulses to the | | | | with their partner after she has given birth because he |
| genitals. The nerve ends in this area then releases the | | | | does not like the changes that the birth process has |
| substance nitrogen oxide. Nitrogen oxide will diffuse | | | | caused to the woman's body. |
| through the genital area and the penis and stimulate | | | | CAUSATIVE TREATMENT |
| the reaction of the blood vessels in the penis. | | | | When a specific organic and psychological condition |
| PHYSICAL CAUSES OF ERECTION PROBLEMS | | | | causes problems for the erections, this problem should |
| Erection problems can occur because of disorders in | | | | be treated with appropriate methods that will vary |
| the nervous system sending impulses to the genital | | | | according to the actual disease. |
| area, problems with the blood supply to the penis and | | | | If the cause is heart disease or atherosclerosis, lifestyle |
| anatomical problems in the penis or genital area. | | | | changes and training adapted to the medical situation |
| Specific causes can be: | | | | can often improve the general health situation and |
| - Accidents, stroke, surgery or tumours hurting brain | | | | improve the erectile abilities. |
| areas or areas in the spinal cord responsible for | | | | If the cause of the erection problems is a problematic |
| erection impulses. | | | | penile shape, for example curved or twisted penis by |
| - Multiple sclerosis, a disease hurting the isolating sheets | | | | Peyronie's disease, using a mechanical penis reaction |
| around the neural fibres in the brain and spinal cord, | | | | device for some time may help. |
| can give erection problems. | | | | On the marked you can also find herbal products to |
| - Accidents or diseases hurting nerves from the spinal | | | | treat injured or diseased blood vessels in the genital |
| cord to the genital region. | | | | area. These products typically contain herbal elements |
| - Atherosclerosis caused by age or an unhealthy | | | | that experience has proven to stimulate tissue repair in |
| lifestyle, giving narrowing and hardening of blood | | | | blood vessels. |
| vessels to the genital region. | | | | POSSIBLE FUNCTIONAL TREATMENT |
| - Injury to the erectile bodies caused by inflammation, | | | | It is not always possible to cure the condition causing |
| accidents or diseases. | | | | erectile problems. Still the problems can be overcome |
| - Congenital malformations in the penis or genital region, | | | | by medication that stimulates the vessels leading blood |
| for example hypospadias and epispadias. | | | | to the penis to relax and the vessels draining the penis |
| - Peyronie's disease, a common inflammatory disease | | | | to constrict. These drugs typically achieve this task by |
| causing abnormal bending or twisting of the penis, and | | | | stimulating the release of nitrogen oxide in the genital |
| sometimes also hinder the filling of blood into the | | | | area. |
| erectile bodies, sometimes gives problems for the | | | | Viagra and Cialis are the best known pharmacological |
| erections. | | | | treatment for erection problems. In spite of what |
| - Circumcision causing the penile skin to be too tight, or | | | | people often think, these drugs do not increase the |
| causing extensive inelastic scars. | | | | sexual drive. If the sexual excitement is there, Viagra |
| - Side effects of medicines, such as medications taken | | | | can help to achieve erection, if the drive and |
| for high blood pressure or depression. | | | | excitement lack in the first place, Viagra will not help. |
| - Zinc deficiency. | | | | There are also herbal products on the market that |
| - Heart disease. | | | | stimulate the erection mechanism. Erection oils give an |
| - Diabetes causing injury to the nerves and blood | | | | instant erection response, but the response only last |
| vessels to the penis. | | | | 2-3 hours. Erection or potency pills take a longer time |
| . High blood pressure (hypertension). | | | | to give effect, but the effect lasts for many hours. The |
| . Liver or kidney disease. | | | | herbal product will often contain components that |
| - Alcohol or drug abuse impairing psychological and | | | | increase the sexual excitement in addition to improving |
| neural functions. | | | | the pure erection mechanism. |
| PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES OF ERECTION | | | | If it is not possible at all to achieve erection with any |
| PROBLEMS | | | | treatment, surgical implants can help to make the penis |
| Psychological causes can interfere with the erection | | | | stiff and raised up enough to perform an intercourse. |
| process by distracting a man from stimuli that normally | | | | One type of implant is partly rigid bodies that make the |
| would give him sexual arousal. Psychological issues | | | | penis permanently partially erected. Another type of |
| account for about 40% of erection problems. Erection | | | | implant is inflatable bodies that can make the penis fully |
| problems in men under age 50 are most likely to be | | | | erected when the need rises. |