You can do a number of things before seeing your doctor to provide valuable information about the cause of your ED. ecause erectile dysfunction often has an emotional component, the search for the cause begins with you. Thanks to many recent medical and pharmaceutical advances, most men who experience chronic ED can be successfully treated. You should realize that occasional ED is nothing to worry about; however, if you're experiencing chronic impotence, you should not be reluctant to discuss it with your doctor. Any condition that affects any of these functions can adversely affect penile erection.

As you have learned, the penis is a specialized blood vessel controlled by your mind, nervous system, circulatory system, and hormone levels. Other examples are patients with angina, heart failure, or those who have suffered a heart attack, all of whom can become impotent from anxiety, depression, insufficient blood flow, or a combination of all three.

One example of impotence of mixed origin is patients with severe lung disease, who often fear that sexual intercourse will aggravate their difficulty in breathing. This results in impotence of mixed origin. These factors may all be involved in occasional ED, but, most often, chronic impotence can be traced to one of the physical conditions commonly associated with aging, coupled with the psychological implications associated with the disease or condition. Other research has shown that the penis becomes less sensitive to touch as a man ages. They may require a longer period of time to achieve an erection; the erect penis may be less swollen; the ejaculation may be smaller and less forceful; and it may take longer to recover from ejaculation sufficiently to re-engage in sexual intercourse. A number of studies have indicated a progressive decline in sexual function in 'healthy' older men. Although impotence is not an inevitable consequence of aging, it does affect more older men than younger men. Chronic alcoholism may also result in liver dysfunction, decreased testosterone levels, increased estrogen levels, and damage to peripheral nerves, including those in the penis. However, large amounts of alcohol can cause central sedation, decreased desire, and temporary ED. Alcohol in small amounts improves sexual drive and erection because it dilates (widens) the blood vessels and suppresses anxiety.

A study of nocturnal (overnight) erections in cigarette smokers showed that men who smoked more than 40 cigarettes a day had the weakest and shortest nocturnal erections. Excessive tobacco use, in particular, can cause blockages in the penile artery and can heighten the effects of other risk factors for impotence, such as hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Excessive use of alcohol, cigarettes, and illegal drugs often decreases sexual drive, and can seriously damage the blood vessels and nerves involved in achieving and maintaining a normal erection. You should never stop treatment, or change the dosage of a prescribed drug, without seeking medical advice.