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Erectile dysfunction (ED) is commonly associated with older men, but in recent years it has emerged that a large proportion of younger men suffer from it too. A 2013 study by Capogrosso revealed that 25% of men seeking treatment for ED were under 40<\/a>, which highlights that there are other triggers for the condition besides age.<\/p>\nWhile ED is a sensitive topic whatever your age, there is evidence to suggest that embarrassment may prevent the majority of young sufferers from seeking medical help.<\/p>\n
A 2006 anonymous survey by the Chicago Children\u2019s Memorial Hospital, of 234 male students (aged 18-25) at three Chicago universities, revealed that while 13% reported \u201cdifficulty getting or keeping an erection,\u201d only 1 of those 29 men had discussed their problem with a doctor. The number of those self-medicating was worryingly much higher, with several men admitting to taking ED medication without a prescription.<\/p>\n
So what are the reasons behind young men developing the condition and is it possible to cure?<\/p>\n
Physiological or psychological?<\/h2>\n
There are two main reasons why a man will suffer from ED \u2013 a physiological problem (of the body) or a psychological problem (of the mind).<\/p>\n
There are several physiological causes for ED. Some are more common in older men, but many can equally affect the young.<\/p>\n
Physiological causes:<\/h3>\n\n- Obesity<\/li>\n
- Diabetes<\/li>\n
- Smoking<\/li>\n
- Excessive alcohol consumption<\/li>\n
- Effects of recreational drugs<\/li>\n
- Serious injury or operations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
While alcohol and drugs often have a temporary impact with few lasting effects, obesity and smoking can cause a gradual hardening of the arteries. This requires a change in lifestyle and diet in order to reverse the effects. In many cases, simple lifestyle changes can alleviate the condition, rather than requiring long-term artificial methods.<\/p>\n
But erectile dysfunction isn\u2019t always a signal of an underlying medical condition. In some cases it may have a psychological cause.<\/p>\n
Psychological causes:<\/h3>\n\n- Nerves<\/li>\n
- Guilt<\/li>\n
- Relationship difficulties<\/li>\n
- Depression<\/li>\n
- Exhaustion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
While physiological problems tend to have set methods for treatment, psychological causes often require a more tailored, individualistic approach.<\/p>\n
So how do you tell if the problem is psychological or physiological?<\/h3>\n
Erectile dysfunction is likely to be psychological if a man can still get an erection from masturbation and often wakes with morning erections, as this demonstrates that the physical functions are in good working order.<\/p>\n
However, in many cases ED can have a mixture of physiological and psychological causes, so it\u2019s best to discuss everything with a doctor rather than guessing which treatment will be most suitable.<\/p>\n
The problem of porn<\/h2>\n
You might wonder how porn could be a problem, but back in 2011 Psychology Today<\/a> published a paper entitled \u2018Porn-Induced Sexual Dysfunction is a Growing Problem\u2019 which argued that porn can become addictive and numb your brain\u2019s responses to normal sexual stimuli. This addiction prevents your body from reacting intensely to normal sexual situations, therefore making it harder to get an erection during sex.<\/p>\nHow can porn cause poor sexual performance?<\/h3>\n
Rather than this form of ED stemming from anxiety and therefore being a psychological problem, the cause appears to be physiological, as most men report a similar recovery pattern.<\/p>\n
The reason ED occurs is due to porn desensitising the user\u2019s response to the neurochemical dopamine<\/a>.\u00a0 This chemical is what creates our sense of motivation and wanting \u2013 essentially it is what lies behind all addictions and drives the search for rewards. However, addiction researchers have now determined that the more dopamine hits a brain receives, the lower its ability to respond to the signals becomes. Therefore, as with many addictions, a more intense experience is required to achieve the same hit.<\/p>\nWhile erotica has been around in some form for centuries, it\u2019s the arrival of the internet that\u2019s made it possible for people to achieve the constant stream of dopamine hits required for an addiction to develop. It\u2019s only when men attempt to have normal sex and find erections impossible, that the problem comes to light.<\/p>\n
While alcohol and drugs often have a temporary impact with few lasting effects, obesity and smoking can cause a gradual hardening of the arteries. This requires a change in lifestyle and diet in order to reverse the effects. In many cases, simple lifestyle changes can alleviate the condition, rather than requiring long-term artificial methods.<\/p>\n
But erectile dysfunction isn\u2019t always a signal of an underlying medical condition. In some cases it may have a psychological cause.<\/p>\n
Psychological causes:<\/h3>\n\n- Nerves<\/li>\n
- Guilt<\/li>\n
- Relationship difficulties<\/li>\n
- Depression<\/li>\n
- Exhaustion<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
While physiological problems tend to have set methods for treatment, psychological causes often require a more tailored, individualistic approach.<\/p>\n
So how do you tell if the problem is psychological or physiological?<\/h3>\n
Erectile dysfunction is likely to be psychological if a man can still get an erection from masturbation and often wakes with morning erections, as this demonstrates that the physical functions are in good working order.<\/p>\n
However, in many cases ED can have a mixture of physiological and psychological causes, so it\u2019s best to discuss everything with a doctor rather than guessing which treatment will be most suitable.<\/p>\n
The problem of porn<\/h2>\n
You might wonder how porn could be a problem, but back in 2011 Psychology Today<\/a> published a paper entitled \u2018Porn-Induced Sexual Dysfunction is a Growing Problem\u2019 which argued that porn can become addictive and numb your brain\u2019s responses to normal sexual stimuli. This addiction prevents your body from reacting intensely to normal sexual situations, therefore making it harder to get an erection during sex.<\/p>\nHow can porn cause poor sexual performance?<\/h3>\n
Rather than this form of ED stemming from anxiety and therefore being a psychological problem, the cause appears to be physiological, as most men report a similar recovery pattern.<\/p>\n
The reason ED occurs is due to porn desensitising the user\u2019s response to the neurochemical dopamine<\/a>.\u00a0 This chemical is what creates our sense of motivation and wanting \u2013 essentially it is what lies behind all addictions and drives the search for rewards. However, addiction researchers have now determined that the more dopamine hits a brain receives, the lower its ability to respond to the signals becomes. Therefore, as with many addictions, a more intense experience is required to achieve the same hit.<\/p>\nWhile erotica has been around in some form for centuries, it\u2019s the arrival of the internet that\u2019s made it possible for people to achieve the constant stream of dopamine hits required for an addiction to develop. It\u2019s only when men attempt to have normal sex and find erections impossible, that the problem comes to light.<\/p>\n
While physiological problems tend to have set methods for treatment, psychological causes often require a more tailored, individualistic approach.<\/p>\n
So how do you tell if the problem is psychological or physiological?<\/h3>\n
Erectile dysfunction is likely to be psychological if a man can still get an erection from masturbation and often wakes with morning erections, as this demonstrates that the physical functions are in good working order.<\/p>\n
However, in many cases ED can have a mixture of physiological and psychological causes, so it\u2019s best to discuss everything with a doctor rather than guessing which treatment will be most suitable.<\/p>\n
The problem of porn<\/h2>\n
You might wonder how porn could be a problem, but back in 2011 Psychology Today<\/a> published a paper entitled \u2018Porn-Induced Sexual Dysfunction is a Growing Problem\u2019 which argued that porn can become addictive and numb your brain\u2019s responses to normal sexual stimuli. This addiction prevents your body from reacting intensely to normal sexual situations, therefore making it harder to get an erection during sex.<\/p>\n Rather than this form of ED stemming from anxiety and therefore being a psychological problem, the cause appears to be physiological, as most men report a similar recovery pattern.<\/p>\n The reason ED occurs is due to porn desensitising the user\u2019s response to the neurochemical dopamine<\/a>.\u00a0 This chemical is what creates our sense of motivation and wanting \u2013 essentially it is what lies behind all addictions and drives the search for rewards. However, addiction researchers have now determined that the more dopamine hits a brain receives, the lower its ability to respond to the signals becomes. Therefore, as with many addictions, a more intense experience is required to achieve the same hit.<\/p>\n While erotica has been around in some form for centuries, it\u2019s the arrival of the internet that\u2019s made it possible for people to achieve the constant stream of dopamine hits required for an addiction to develop. It\u2019s only when men attempt to have normal sex and find erections impossible, that the problem comes to light.<\/p>\nHow can porn cause poor sexual performance?<\/h3>\n