HEALTH
BY DANIEL HIRSCH (AS SEEN AT DAPHEALTH.ORG) ith more than 50% of men reporting some incidence of erectile dysfunction (according to some studies), the condition might just be one of the most common health issues affecting those assigned male at birth. Despite its commonness, the causes of erectile dysfunction (E.D.) — defined by the inability to develop or maintain an erection long enough for satisfying sexual activity — are astoundingly complex and variable. I spoke to DAP Health’s Co-Directors of Adult Medicine Dr. Frederick Afari and Dr. Damoun Rezai to more fully understand the disorder that involves a delicate exchange of vascular, hormonal, mechanical, and, crucially, psychological factors.
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What are the physical causes of erectile dysfunction? Dr. Rezai: There are a lot of reasons why it happens. When it comes to how blood goes throughout the body — the penis being a sponge, blood goes in there and fills that sponge up to make an erection — it’s impacted by any of the common chronic conditions we many experience as we get older: high blood pressure, poor cholesterol, weight gain. Diabetes can also impact the body’s ability to get an erection. Finally, if there’s ever been any injury due to an accident or trauma, there can be some long-term issues. Dr. Afari: Testosterone depreciates as you age. If you have a low volume, that also causes you to not be able to achieve or maintain an erection for a sustained period of time. What are the psychological causes? Dr. Afari: With sexuality, psychology always plays a role. There are different parts of the brain that get activated when we are aroused. If you do not have enough stimuli, if you are stressed out, or if you are feeling depressed, all those things can play a role. The brain is a strong tool. Dr. Rezai: Beta blockers and certain psychiatric medicines that have the benefit of preventing heart attack and stroke,
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GEDMAG.COM DECEMBER 2024