There’s a lot that goes into your ability to get and maintain an erection, not the least of which is your physical health. Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects more than half the male population in the United States (52%) and its prevalence tends to increase in lockstep with age (40% of men at 40 on up to 70% by age 70).
At Arizona Urology, our team of expert male health specialists understands the many factors that can contribute to erectile dysfunction. In our efforts to remedy ED, we often uncover a larger problem, which allows you to address both the symptom (ED) and the root cause at the same time.
Here’s a look at some of the more common conditions that can lead to ED.
The ability to achieve and maintain an erection involves many different areas of your health, including your:
To create an erection, your penis contains two chambers called the corpora cavernosa, which contain blood vessels that are designed to engorge with blood. When you first engage in sex, your nerves message back and forth between your brain and your penis and relax the muscles surrounding your corpora cavernosa. This allows blood to flood the area to create the erection.
So, as you can see, any problem along this chain of events can create problems with ED.
Because an erection relies on a good circulatory system that sends blood into your penis, this is the first area of your health that we check. Many cases of ED are related to:
Outside of circulatory problems, ED can also develop as a result of:
This list is by no means comprehensive, but it gives you a better idea of the wide range of issues that can affect your sexual health. And what the lists above don’t include are ED issues that stem from mental health issues, such as depression or excessive stress.
To figure out whether there’s a physical issue that’s causing your ED, we perform an extensive evaluation. If we find an issue, we address your ED and get you pointed in the right direction to treat the underlying cause. To treat your ED, we offer:
To find out more about what may be behind your ED, please contact one of our locations in Goodyear, Glendale, Gilbert, or Phoenix, Arizona, to set up an appointment.
