Alcohol, stress, anger…10 factors that can cause impotence

Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is the inability to develop or maintain an erection during sexual activity.

Often times, impotence is considered a spiritual (for the religious folks) or a medical condition.

Seeing as sexual excitement is a function of mental and physical well-being, there are various things that can cause the inability to keep an erection or have one at all.

Here are some of the culprits to blame in the event of erectile dysfunction.

Depression

Sexual excitement starts in your head and works its way down. Depression can dampen your desire and can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Ironically, many of the drugs used to treat depression can also suppress your sex drive and make it harder to get an erection, and they can cause a delay in your orgasm.

Alcohol

For some people, having a few drinks is a great way to “get in the mood”, but overindulging can have the opposite of the desired effect. Heavy alcohol use can interfere with erections, but the effects are usually temporary.

However, moderate drinking might have health benefits like reducing heart disease risks.

Medications

Believe it or not, some drugs could affect your performance in the bedroom. These include certain blood pressure drugs, pain medications, and antidepressants. Street drugs like amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana can cause sexual problems in men.

Stress

It’s not easy to get in the mood when you’re tired to the teeth and overwhelmed by responsibilities at work and home.

Deal with stress by making lifestyle changes that promote healthy wellbeing and relaxation, such as exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and seeking professional help when needed.

Anger

Anger can make blood rush to your face, but not to the one place you need it when you want to have sex. It’s not easy to feel romantic when you’re raging, whether your anger is directed at your partner or not.

Unexpressed anger or improperly expressed anger can contribute to performance problems in the bedroom.

Anxiety

Worrying that you won’t be able to perform in bed can make it harder for you to do just that. Anxiety from other parts of your life can also spill over into the bedroom. Worrying can make you fear and avoid intimacy, which can spiral into a vicious cycle that puts a big strain on your sex life.

Overweight

Gaining weight can impact your sexual performance and not just by lowering your self-esteem. Obese men have lower levels of the male hormone testosterone, which is important for sexual desire and producing an erection.

Being overweight is also linked to high blood pressure and hardening of the arteries, which can reduce blood flow to the penis.

Self-image

When you don’t like what you see in the mirror, it’s easy to assume your partner isn’t going to like the view either.

A negative self-image can make you worry not only about how you look, but also about how well you’re going to perform in bed. That performance anxiety can make you too anxious to even attempt sex.

Low libido

Low libido isn’t the same as erectile dysfunction, but a lot of the same factors that stifle an erection can also dampen your interest in sex.

Low self-esteem, stress, anxiety, and certain medications can all reduce your sex drive. When all those worries are tied up with making love, your interest in sex can take a nosedive.

Your health

Many different health conditions can affect the nerves, muscles, or blood flow that is needed to have an erection.

Diabetes, high blood pressure, hardening of the arteries, spinal cord injuries, and multiple sclerosis are some of the health conditions that can contribute to erectile dysfunction.

Also, surgery to treat prostate or bladder problems can affect the nerves and blood vessels that control an erection.

You might find it embarrassing to discuss this problem but seeing a doctor or making out time for relaxation can go a long way to help with erectile dysfunction. Taking medication without prescription can be dangerous.