From extra weight to extra drinks, these health conditions
and habits may be affecting you performance in the bedroom.
Depression
The brain is an often-overlooked erogenous zone. 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
You might consider having a few drinks to get in the mood,
but overindulging could make it harder for you to finish the act. Heavy alcohol
use can interfere with erections, but the effects are usually temporary. The
good news is that moderate drinking -- one or two drinks a day -- might have
health benefits like reducing heart disease risks. And those risks are similar
to erectile dysfunction risks.
Medications
The contents of your medicine cabinet could affect your
performance in the bedroom. A long list of common drugs can cause ED, including
certain blood pressure drugs, pain medications, and antidepressants. But do not
stop taking any medicines without talking to your doctor first. Street drugs
like amphetamines, cocaine, and marijuana can cause sexual problems in men, too.
Stress
It's not easy to get in the mood when you're overwhelmed by
responsibilities at work and home. Stress can take its toll on many different
parts of your body, including your penis. Deal with stress by making lifestyle
changes that promote well-being and relaxation, such as exercising regularly,
getting enough sleep, and seeking professional help when appropriate.
Anger
Anger can make the 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. All that worry can make you fear and avoid
intimacy, which can spiral into a vicious cycle that puts a big strain on your
sex life -- and relationship.
Middle-Aged Spread
Carrying extra pounds 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 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 can contribute to ED. Surgery to treat prostate or bladder problems
can also affect the nerves and blood vessels that control an erection.
How to Solve Erection
Problems
It can be embarrassing to talk to your doctor about your sex
life, but it's the best way to get treated and get back to being intimate with
your partner. Your doctor can pinpoint the source of the problem and may
recommend lifestyle interventions like quitting smoking or losing weight. Other
treatment options may include ED drugs, hormone treatments, a suction device
that helps create an erection, or counseling.
(Web MD)
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