Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men

In layman's language, erectile dysfunction is defined as a man's inability to get a erection that is good enough to satisfy sexual intercourse. It is also known as 'impotence' and the condition has a gradual severity in its effects. For example, some people who are affected by this medical condition are simply not able to get any kind of erection at all (total inability), while some manage to, but not hard enough for penetration (inconsistent ability). In some cases, the person is able to penetrate but eventually loses it (sustains only brief erection). All these scenarios are associated with erectile dysfunction symptoms.

Sometimes, this inability of men to satisfy sexual needs, becomes a potent cause for depression, relationship problems and negative self-esteem. Erectile dysfunction causes and treatments are briefly described as follows.

Erectile Dysfunction In Young Men: Causes
The male anatomy involved in sexual arousal, is a complex system. It involves the brain, hormones, emotions and any kind of malfunctions in any of these systems can harm the delicate balance between their working and cause erectile dysfunction. Factors that are responsible for causing erectile dysfunction do not necessarily have to bear a psychological nature. There are causes which may have their source in certain medical conditions and side-effects of medications.

Erectile dysfunction in young men and men falling in any age group may be caused by heart diseases, atherosclerosis (a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits (atheromas) inside the arterial walls, thus, narrowing the arteries), high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and sometimes metabolic syndrome. Apart from these, erectile dysfunction in young men (and others) may also be the outcome of the usage of certain medications, tobacco, alcohol or drug abuse, Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.

During recuperation, post-surgery of prostate cancer and surgeries or injuries that have affected the pelvic area or spinal cord, a person can suffer from erectile dysfunction. Hormonal disorders such as low testosterone (hypogonadism) and peyronie's disease are the other causes of erectile dysfunction in young, middle aged and elderly men.

As mentioned earlier, thoughts and emotions (psychological factors) are the major elements in getting an erection. Younger males often undergo erectile problems due to anxiety which involves nervousness about indulging in sex for the first time or inexperience. It also involves fear or anxiety of causing a pregnancy or sometimes even using a condom. It has been surveyed among young men, that after they try to put on the condom, they somehow lose their erection.

Out of all the factors which play significant roles in developing feelings of sexual excitement, the brain is the one which is responsible for deciphering the physical events that trigger the erection. So intervention of things such as fatigue, depression or stress are the most common reasons of erectile dysfunction in young men. Disturbances in love life or married life or even poor communication between the partners also result in low sex drive or sometimes in erectile dysfunction.

Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Treatment for erectile dysfunction in men involves various types of methods which range from medications, mechanical devices, surgery to psychological counseling. As a known fact of any medical disorder, the treatment depends upon its severity and the underlying causes.

Erectile dysfunction in young men or older men is caused by a disturbance in the blood flow to the corpus cavernosum and this results in the inability to achieve erection. So one of the treatment methods include the administration of drugs known as phosphodiesterase inhibitors, which enhance the effects of nitric oxide. This nitric oxide relaxes the muscles and increases the amount of blood flow, which ultimately triggers an erection when sexual stimulation (physical and psychological) occurs. Some of these oral drugs are sildenafil (viagra), tadalafil (cialis) and vardenafil (levitra).

However, before opting for these medications, it is better to consult a doctor as there might be serious repercussions due to their usage. This is because these drugs are not suitable for all men and they should not be taken for granted that they can fix the erectile dysfunction. It is wise to seek professional guidance as there might be some people who are already on some drugs or are suffering from medical conditions which might respond negatively to these medications used for the erectile dysfunction treatment.

Therapies like needle-injection therapy, self-administered intraurethral therapy (muse) and hormone replacement therapy (HRT) are also recommended for treatment of erectile dysfunction. As mentioned earlier, mechanical aids are also available for achieving erection. Some of them are constriction ring, vacuum pump, semi-rigid penile prosthesis and inflatable penile prosthesis. In some cases, a person might decide to undergo a surgery such as vascular surgery, penile implants, arterial surgery, etc. In cases wherein, the causes for erectile dysfunction in young men have their sources from psychological factors, the affected person and his partner may be advised for regular visits to a sex therapist.

Thus, we see that the causes of erectile dysfunction in young men and even in men of all ages have their roots spread in many factors. The good thing, is that there are several options for the treatment of this disorder. Following a healthy lifestyle also aids an effective treatment and so does the participation and co-operation of the patient's partner.