Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, which is considered a spiritual (for the religious folks) or a medical condition, is the inability to develop or maintain an erection during sexual activity.
Below are some of the culprits to blame in the event of erectile dysfunction.
Depression
Sexual excitement starts in your head and works its way down. Depression can dampen your desire and can lead to erectile dysfunction.
Ironically, many of the drugs used to treat depression can also suppress your s*x drive and make it harder to get an erection, and they can cause a delay in your orgasm.
Alcohol
For some people, having a few drinks is a great way to “get in the mood”, but overindulging can have the opposite of the desired effect. Heavy alcohol use can interfere with erections, but the effects are usually temporary.
However, moderate drinking might have health benefits like reducing heart disease risks.
Medications
Believe it or not, some drugs could affect your performance in the bedroom. These include certain blood pressure drugs, pain medications, and antidepressants. Street drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana can cause sexual problems in men.
Stress
It’s not easy to get in the mood when you’re tired to the teeth and overwhelmed by responsibilities at work and home.
Deal with stress by making lifestyle changes that promote healthy wellbeing and relaxation, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and seeking professional help when needed.
Anger
Anger can make blood rush to your face, but not to the one place you need it when you want to have sex. It’s not easy to feel romantic when you’re raging, whether your anger is directed at your partner or not.
Unexpressed anger or improperly expressed anger can contribute to performance problems in the bedroom.
Anxiety
Worrying that you won’t be able to perform in bed can make it harder for you to do just that. Anxiety from other parts of your life can also spill over into the bedroom. Worrying can make you fear and avoid intimacy, which can spiral into a vicious cycle that puts a big strain on your s*x life.
Overweight
Gaining weight can impact your sexual performance and not just by lowering your self-esteem. Obese men have lower levels of the male hormone testosterone, which is important for sexual desire and producing an erection.
Being overweight is also linked to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries, which can reduce blood flow to the penis.
Self-image
When you don’t like what you see in the mirror, it’s easy to assume your partner isn’t going to like the view either.
A negative self-image can make you worry not only about how you look, but also about how well you’re going to perform in bed. That performance anxiety can make you too anxious to even attempt s*x.
Low libido
Low libido isn’t the same as erectile dysfunction, but a lot of the same factors that stifle an erection can also dampen your interest in s*x.
Low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, and certain medications can all reduce your sex drive. When all those worries are tied up with making love, your interest in sex can take a nosedive.
Your health
Many different health conditions can affect the nerves, muscles, or blood flow that is needed to have an erection.
Diabetes, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis are some of the health conditions that can contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Also, surgery to treat prostate or bladder problems can affect the nerves and blood vessels that control an erection.
Credits: TheCable Lifestyle
