What Causes Erectile Dysfunction & Premature Ejaculation?

About Premature Ejaculation

Premature ejaculation is a fairly common and treatable condition where a man ejaculates early in the sex act–either before or in the beginning stages of intercourse. By the Mayo Clinic’s estimation, as many as one out of three men may be affected by premature ejaculation at some point in time. There are several physical and psychological factors and, for many men, a combination of medication, counseling and sexual techniques can help them overcome the condition and delay ejaculation.

About Erectile Dysfunction

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Erectile dysfunction is also fairly common and has both physical and psychological causes. With erectile dysfunction, a man may experience difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection sufficient for intercourse. Every man may, at some point, experience some erectile difficulties but, according to the Mayo Clinic, at least 25 percent of instances of erectile dysfunction signal a larger problem. As with premature ejaculation, many men respond well to medication--for the erectile dysfunction and/or for any underlying physical condition.

Physical Causes of Premature Ejaculation

While there are several physical causes for premature ejaculation, according to the Mayo Clinic, a biological cause is more likely if there is a lifelong history of premature ejaculation. This is because many of the possible factors--such as thyroid problems and abnormal hormone levels as well as inherited traits and abnormal reflex activity of the ejaculatory system--tend to be chronic and long term. Inflammation of the prostate and urethra are both acute conditions that can cause temporary problems with premature ejaculation. In rare instances, trauma or injury to the nervous system, narcotic withdrawal and certain drugs can also contribute to premature ejaculation.

Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

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Unlike premature ejaculation, the physical causes of erectile dysfunction are more likely to occur later in life and erectile dysfunction is often a symptom of a more serious physical problem or illness. In many cases, men with erectile dysfunction may have undiagnosed heart disease or atherosclerosis. Diabetes, hypertension and metabolic syndrome can also cause erectile dysfunction and this is why it’s important for men to seek medical assistance if they experience a marked changed in their erections. Some medications can also cause erectile dysfunction, as can alcohol and drug abuse and even tobacco use. Neurological disorders like Parkinson’s and multiple sclerosis can disrupt the nerve impulses to the penis. Peyronie’s disease causes a curvature of the penis that may make erections painful and, in severe cases, prevent erections from occurring.

Psychological Causes of Premature Ejaculation

In some cases, premature ejaculation may be directly related to patterns established during early sexual experiences. Men who have frequently had to rush to climax in the past may automatically fall into the same behavior patterns. By the same token, anxiety about performance, over excitement and even relationship issues can all contribute to premature ejaculation. Interestingly, erectile dysfunction may also contribute to premature ejaculation--a man may try to rush to climax before losing his erection.

Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

As with premature ejaculation, anxiety is a big psychological issue with erectile dysfunction. Often, if a man has experienced some form of sexual dysfunction in the past, or is otherwise anxious about his sexual performance, this can create a vicious cycle of erectile dysfunction. Depression, stress and fatigue can also contribute to erectile dysfunction as can conflicts within a relationship.