Individuals with erectile troubles are deprived of the pleasure of intimacy and as a result, they feel distressed about their inability to achieve stronger erections. They may find it difficult to express themselves sexually despite complete arousal.
Having difficulty attaining or sustaining erections can be sometimes blamed on factors such as alcohol intoxication, smoking, drug abuse, injury, stress, and relationship problems. Such factors interfere with sexual feelings and affect arousal.
Chronic Condition
If the difficulty to attain and sustain an erection persists for a long and becomes a chronic condition, then there must be some underlying physiological or psychological cause that is responsible for erection failures. Prolonged erection difficulty indicates erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence which is a symptoms of some underlying cause.
7 Signs That Your Sex Life Getting Affected Due to Erectile Dysfunction
Lack of Sexual Desire
Lack of sexual desire or loss of libido can drop naturally to some extent as men age. It could be an indication of low levels of testosterone in the body. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in males and a decline in its levels can lead to low libido in men. As a result, they may not get aroused even after ample sexual stimulation.
Moreover, low libido can also be linked to erectile dysfunction. It can be an early sign and symptom of erectile dysfunction. If you ignore these signs, erectile dysfunction will slowly progress and become a chronic condition. A drastic reduction in your sex drive can be a warning sign of erectile dysfunction.
Relationship Problems
Couples in long-term relationships can get afflicted due to a lack of sexual intimacy which can impact their bond. Loss of intimacy creates a wall between the couple due to the weakening of their emotional bond. Sexual intimacy is necessary for a flourishing relationship as it is something that goes beyond the physical act. It is an essential component of a healthy, fulfilling connection. Its significance can differ from one individual to the next. Some may even feel that having a deep sexual connection with their partner is vital. While others may not have similar views.
Trouble Attaining an Erection
An erection is attained after sexual arousal. The brain signals it to the penile nerves to increase the blood flow to the penile for getting an erection. Erection trouble results due to the lack of blood flow to the penile which could be a reason due to the blockages in the penile blood vessels.
The passages of the penile blood vessels get clogged and consequently, the blood vessels become narrow, which restricts the flow of blood to the penile. Poor blood flow to the penile affects the erection function and leads to erection failures. If it happens repeatedly, it is a strong sign of erectile dysfunction.
Failure to Sustain an Erection
Usually, when an erection is achieved, the blood vessels of the penile close off and trap the blood inside the penile tissues to sustain an erection. But sometimes, men may get an erection, but they may fail to sustain the erection for long. They may even experience feeble erections. These difficulties are due to impaired erection function which happens due to a lack of adequate blood flow throughout the penile blood vessels. This again is a warning sign of erectile dysfunction.
Loss of Sensitivity in the Penile
Insensitive penile can hardly sense any sexual stimulation. As men age, they may require more stimulation for getting an erection. With age, men may struggle to experience sensitivity in their penile as their hormonal levels drop. This can also happen because of medical conditions that affect penile sensitivity. This is an indication of erectile dysfunction due to aging.
Feeling Lonely and Isolated
Everybody wants to feel desired by their partners. But impotence issues can create distance in your relationship. Two individuals who cannot stay away from each other for long feel lonely once they lack intimacy in their relationship which causes them to feel isolated. They might even wonder why they are still in this relationship when the spark is gone.
Emotionally, they may feel their emotions are bottled up and there is no one to share those feelings with. This might as well give rise to mental health issues in some individuals by causing stress or depression.
Frustration
Sexual insufficiency in men leads to embarrassment and disappointment due to the lack of satisfaction. Men may prefer to suffer in silence than to address this issue, which causes frustration and anger. The inability to do something about their sexual difficulty can fuel their frustration even more, which is why they need to communicate it to their partner or see a doctor that can help them to alleviate erectile dysfunction.
ED Treatment
There are multiple treatment methods out there, that include constriction rings, vacuum erection devices, supplements, herbal methods using essential oils, injections, and surgical implants. Treatment using constriction rings, penile injections, and vacuum erection devices leads to injuries and bruises and they may also worsen priapism, hence, they are not the best choice for continuous usage.
Additionally, surgical implants are a risky option as there is a possibility of permanent damage whereas herbal methods are not much effective. ED drugs are preferred by most men due to their ability to deliver prompt action in the treatment of impotence. FDA has offered its approval to four ED drugs, which include Sildenafil (Viagra), Avanafil (Stendra), Tadalafil (Cialis), and Vardenafil (Levitra).
How do ED Medicines work?
ED medicines are PDE5 inhibitor that negates the action of PDE5 enzymes in the walls of the penile blood vessels. PDE5 inhibition leads to the discharge of a powerful substance known as, Nitric oxide (NO) into the penile tissues. Nitric oxide causes the stimulation and synthesis of cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) enzymes that relaxes the penile blood vessels. This relaxation allows chambers inside the penile to fill with blood for the penile to attain an erection. It further overcomes arterial blockages by causing vasodilation in the penile shaft. Thus, cGMP metabolized through these medicines promotes harder erections.