Sex problems are not rare or limited phenomena. Year after year, millions of men and women are reportedly suffering from some sort of sexual problem, mostly as a result of bad lifestyle habits. This is exactly why so many pharmaceutical companies are launching multiple branded versions of generic vasodilation medications every year.
So, if you are asking yourself “Why can’t I get hard during sex?”, you are probably one of those many men who are suffering from erection issues, which is medically termed as ‘erectile dysfunction’ or impotence. However, the answer is not that simple. Let us delve a bit deeper into this question, ‘What does it mean when you can’t get an erection?’
Why Can’t I Get Hard During Sex?
The physiological answer to the question ‘What does it mean when you can’t get an erection?’, is nothing but a lack of sufficient blood fo to the blood vessels present in the penis. Now, this can happen due to a wide range of factors. Let us consider them one at a time.
Is my Age an issue in getting Hard During Sex?
Well, age can be a valid reason for losing those firm erections that you once used to enjoy. It is quite natural to lose erections as men cross a certain age, especially in the 60s. Although some men face erection issues even in their 40s or as early as mid-20s; but that might be for some other unseen reasons like some medical condition or drug abuse, etc.
Older men tend to lose erections or fail to achieve firm erections because of the simple fact that their testosterone levels typically decrease as they age. Apart from this, the most common causes of ED in older men are medical conditions that block blood flow to the penis.
Other Medical Conditions Paving the Way to ED
There are numerous medical conditions that can lead to erection issues in men. Diabetes, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, heavy metal poisoning, spinal cord and nerve injuries, and nerve damage from pelvic operations can cause erectile dysfunction (ED).
Diabetes and overweight or obesity, are two of the primary health conditions that might lead to ED. Shocking data reveals to us, how about 10.9 million adult men in the U.S. have diabetes, and 35% to 50% of these men are impotent.
Peripheral neuropathy of the nerves that are responsible for erections, is commonly seen in people with diabetes. Such a condition includes premature and unusually severe hardening of the arteries. Apart from this, there are many other neurological problems that can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence in men.
Disturbed mental health is another cause of ED and is closely related to erectile dysfunction. Stress, depression, anxiety etc. are some of the most common psychological issues that pave the way to ED. As there is an intertwined relationship between depression, ED and cardiovascular disease, men with depression should be fully evaluated for medical illness as well as psychological factors. It is important to note here that some antidepressant medications cause erectile failure too. Apart from these, you may refer to the following list of medical factors that might lead to developing symptoms of erectile dysfunction or impotence in men.
- Hormonal abnormalities, such as increased prolactin (a hormone produced by the anterior pituitary gland)
- Steroid abuse by bodybuilders
- Excess or too little thyroid hormone
- Hormones administered for prostate cancer
- Cardiovascular disease
- Blood vessel occlusion (atherosclerosis)
- High cholesterol levels
- Blood pressure is high.
- Metabolic syndrome
- Parkinson’s disease (PD)
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
- Surgeries or injuries that damage the pelvic region or spinal cord
- Peyronie’s disease
- Low testosterone levels at a young age
- Prostate cancer and enlarged prostate treatments
Medications Creating ED Symptoms
A wide range of prescription drugs, such as blood pressure medications, antianxiety and antidepressant medications, glaucoma eye drops, and cancer chemotherapy agents are just a few of the numerous medications associated with symptoms of erectile dysfunction in men.
Apart from these factors, certain addictive habits like excessive tobacco consumption, alcoholism, various types of drug or substance abuse, or even sleep problems might lead to erection issues.
Patients, in any case, are advised to consult an authorized healthcare professional and avoid self-medication. They need to share their current and past medical history with a doctor in order to get the right kind of diagnosis and most appropriate treatment.
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Main Causes of Erectile Dysfunction Explained
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