Though most men would be far from quick to admit it, erectile dysfunction is not just something that happens to men in their 50s and older—quite the contrary, in fact.
Erectile dysfunction: beyond the bedroom
Though most men would be far from quick to admit it, erectile dysfunction is not just something that happens to men in their 50s and older—quite the contrary, in fact.
Erectile dysfunction, more commonly known as impotence, is the lack of ability to achieve or maintain an erection. “Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these,” according to the Mayo Clinic’s website. So what does this mean?
In older men, impotence can be linked to untreated, underlying health conditions. This negates the common misconception about the condition: It is not a matter of a man’s plumbing malfunctioning as a result of old age.
The fact that male arousal relies on so many different, interlocking bodily components lends credibility to the idea of interference. If diabetes or heart disease runs in the family, or a less-than-healthy lifestyle is maintained for far too long, further diagnostic testing beyond simply obtaining a Viagra prescription may be the answer.
It seems that the reason impotence occurs far less often in younger men stems from these pesky underlying health issues. But young men are not out of the woods.
Poor mental health is also a precursor to erectile dysfunction. Stressful situations like poor communication in a long-term relationship, depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions can cause impotence.
Solutions? Engage your partner in more meaningful conversation about the state of your relationship and seek out mental health resources that could potentially lead to a healthier mind and, in turn, a healthier sex life.
Women are not exempt from this problem. Although male and female sexual arousal are two completely different sciences, women too are subject to various sexual dysfunctions.
Female-centric problematic arousal conditions include hypoactive sexual desire disorder (a chronic lack of interest in sexual activity), sexual arousal disorder (persistent or recurrent inability to attain or maintain sexual excitement), orgasmic disorder (chronic difficulty in attaining or inability to attain orgasm following sufficient arousal), among many others.
Like male erectile dysfunction, these conditions can be brought on by many of the same underlying problems, including issues related to mental health.
So how does one synthesize this information? If you are in a long-term relationship, open and frequent communication (both sexual and nonsexual) is incredibly important in maintaining a healthy sex life. Problems arising from work, school, family and other social arenas should not be ignored if they are negatively impacting life in the bedroom.
Engage in meaningful conversation on a regular basis with those who are willing to listen, seek the necessary help to abate any underlying health problems contributing to sexual health issues, and soon you will find yourself “in the woods” once again.
