What do you do if your husband has erectile dysfunction?
We talk a lot on here about how porn is often the culprit when it comes to sexual dysfunction issues in a marriage, but that’s not always the case. Sometimes there are actually underlying medical reasons for erectile dysfunction, and all of them are important to have monitored.
Today I’m happy to have David Gomes here to talk about the medical side of erectile dysfunction. I think this is such an important thing to talk about, since it does affect a lot of marriages.
On to David:
Sexual disorders can cause problems in a man’s life. Not only physical problems but also problems that extend to psychological issues – such as depression and anxiety. These problems can have a significant negative impact on a man’s quality of life. Apart from the impact sexual disorders have on a man’s personal health and the relationship he has with himself, these disorders can also cause problems in the healthiest of marriages. Sex is an important part of many healthy marriages, and when sexual intercourse isn’t as satisfying as it used to be, the marriage may experience problems and, in some cases, might even lead to a dead-end when the problems aren’t addressed appropriately.
Erectile dysfunction is the most common sexual disorder that men have to face. It causes problems with a man’s ability to have normal erections. In some cases, men can obtain an erection, but the erection tends to go away while the man is having sex. In more advanced cases, the man may be unable to get an erection at all, or his erection may not be hard enough to have sex. Johns Hopkins Bloomberg’s School of Public Health estimates that approximately 18.4% of men who are aged 20 years or older experience symptoms of this sexual disorder. They also estimate that at least 18 million American adult men are affected by the problem.
Health Conditions That Have Been Linked To Erectile Dysfunction
While erectile dysfunction might seem like a disorder on its own, it is often a sign that an underlying source is causing problems in a man’s life. While the condition is sometimes diagnosed independently, it is accompanied by another serious health concern most of the times. Thus, it is important for men to realize that signs of this sexual disorder might not mean that they are developing problems with their sexual function, but may rather be a sign that a serious health concern is in development. Obtaining effective treatment for the underlying health concern can often be the best way to treat the symptoms of erectile dysfunction that have developed.
1: Type 2 Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that can develop when the amount of sugar circulating in the bloodstream is too high. While there are two different types of diabetes, more than 90% of patients diagnosed with the condition have type 2 diabetes. This specific type of diabetes often develops when a person has too much excess weight or does not participate in an adequate amount of exercise on a regular basis. Of the 30 million adults in the United States that have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, approximately 50% are men. A clinical study that was conducted in Baltimore noted that erectile dysfunction’s prevalence tends to be much higher among men who have diabetes. In fact, among all of the participants in the study, men with diabetes had a 51.3% prevalence of erectile dysfunction.
2: Heart Disease
Heart disease is a common problem that a lot of men suffer from. Heart disease tends to affect the heart’s health, as well as arteries and blood circulation. The health of arteries and the body’s ability to push blood to all areas of the body is very important for healthy erections. When arteries are damaged, or blood flow is restricted, then the penis may not have access to an amount of blood that is enough to help it completely expand. WebMD explains that erectile dysfunction may be one of the best predictions of a developing heart disease as the blood vessels located in the penis is much smaller than the blood vessels that are found in other parts of the human body. Thus, when the lining of these blood vessels starts to deteriorate, erectile dysfunction symptoms may develop. This could lead to the early detection and treatment of a developing heart disease.
3: Heart Attack
Apart from the fact that symptoms of erectile dysfunction may be signalling the development of heart disease, it could also be a warning sign that a man is at risk of experiencing a heart attack. The penis requires healthy blood supply when a man gains an erection and, when the erection does not swell up to a firm and large size, it may be a signal that arteries are blocked in the male body. When arteries are blocked, a condition known as atherosclerosis can develop. This can cause blood clotting and even a sudden rupture of the plaque, which then pushes through the heart and causes affected heart muscle to stop working -–this is what happens during a heart attack. Thus, if blocked arteries are causing erection problems, it may be a signal that a man has a higher risk of having a heart attack.
4: Depression
At least 9% of American adult men are currently suffering from depression, while at least 30.6% of men in the country have suffered from depression in the past. These are recorded statistics, which means the actual figures may be much higher. One problem is that many people fail to realize they have depression as the symptoms may differ from one person to another. There is a cross-directional link between depression and erectile dysfunction. Depression can cause a person to experience symptoms of this sexual disorder. Being diagnosed with erectile dysfunction can also cause a person to become depressed. Depression can have a negative impact on mental and physical health.
5: Liver Disease
This may come as a surprise, but the liver plays a part in a man’s ability to perform during sexual intercourse. The liver has a role in the processing of certain male hormones. When the liver does not function properly, then it may not have the ability to process these hormones sufficiently. Thus hormone levels, such as testosterone, may decline drastically. This may lead to the development of erectile dysfunction. Thus, men who have erectile dysfunction without accompanied heart disease or depression should have their liver checked for disease and damage.
Erectile dysfunction can be a disorder that makes drastic changes in a man’s life. It may cause problems with the man’s self-confidence and even lead to the end of marriage in some cases. This problem, however, does not necessarily mean a man has physical problems with his reproductive organ but may be signalling the development of another serious health concern. Treating the health concern that is causing the problem may help to restore erectile function. While the man is undergoing treatment for the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction, a supplement, such as Erect on Demand, can be taken to temporarily provide relief of the effects the health concern has on his erectile function.
David Gomes by profession a Freelance Writer. He loves to write on a variety of topics such as sexual health, fitness, and workout for blogs and online publication sites. He is passionate about helping others and toward his work. In his spare time, when he’s not writing, David enjoys watching action movies, listening to music, reading anything that comes into his hands and planning his dream vacation.
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As a nurse, I named the first two issues right off the bat. Medications prescribed to treat those conditions in your post can cause impotence as well.
Yes, especially antidepressants! That’s such a tough one. I know so many people who battle with that. Antidepressants can kill libido and cause ED, but NOT being on them can do worse things. They really need to figure out a way to help people with depression without hurting one of the areas of our lives which can be the most healing!
My husband and I are living this as well. We have been married for 4 and a half years and have not had sex. He is a colon cancer survivor and this was a side effect of the chemo. So this is medical. It is debilitating for him, but it has not defined who he is and we are praying and trying other options. The RX pills don’t work and give him bad headaches. But I am so very blessed he is here today! But it is a hard walk to walk.
Oh, Ann, that is so difficult! I’m very sorry. I’m glad your husband is well and with you, but how difficult to live with! May God’s peace be with you.
Wow, these are really scary! Definitely worth getting to the root of the problem. It might save your life!
I am living this now. My husband and I have been married for a year and a half and have never had sex. We’ve tried the medications and some holistic approaches and have had no luck. We are both so discouraged.
I am so sorry, Vivian. Do they know what the root cause is? Are they sure that it’s medical, and not either psychological or addiction based? If it’s the latter two, it really can be cured, it just may take some time.
It’s medical (Type 2 Diabetic) and some other contributing health issues. It has taken a toll of both of us mentally, emotionally and physical. I’ve been praying about this for so long. I don’t want a sexless marriage, but so far that’s what we’ve got. I feel like roommates most of the time. I’ve been a subscriber for a while and I’ve really enjoyed your posts. Thank you.
Wow, Vivian. So tough. All I can say is put as much energy as you can into attacking the diabetes. I’ve known people who have seen so much improvement by drastic diet changes and the proper medication. But that’s a hard road to walk.
I am so sorry that you are going through this. My husband was diagnosed 4 years ago with type 2 and E.D. has been a problem long before that. So I know what you are going through. I feel your pain. The first year was the most difficult. We tried everything that is out there and nothing worked. We cried together, a lot. Sometimes we still do. But there is hope because we serve a marvelous God. Type 2 can be reversed with proper diet. We have seen some improvement with his E.D. when we eliminate all processed foods, and go mainly organic. I will be praying for you. If you would like to talk more, you can look me up on Facebook. I know you may feel all alone in this, but you’re not. There are many women out there who know your pain, myself included.
This is great info, is there going to be a part two discussing how it affects a couples sex life? My husband had his prostate removed because of cancer. As a result he suffers from ED. Thankfully RX drugs work for him but it has truly changed our sex life. There is basically no spontaneity, sex is planned & timed, making it more clinical (for lack of a better word) than romantic. I would love to hear how others handle it.
I’ve got another post on erectile dysfunction that may help right here, Margie! I’m so sorry that you’re going through this.
Hi Margie,
I can relate to your use of the word “clinical”. My husband had prostate surgery 6 years ago. My description of his penile rehabilitation was “clinical”.
RX drugs finally started working after a long time of rehab., and yes, the spontaneity disappeared. It’s definitely an adjustment. But over the years, those planned & timed sexual encounters have become times of sweet anticipation and joy. Times we look forward to.
We can’t always control the things that happen to us in life. But, we can control the way we choose to respond.
My prayers to you and your husband.
I believe that this list should also include Sleep Apnea. ED and Sleep apnea often go hand in hand in many men.
Great point, Melissa! I think I need to do a whole post on Sleep apnea soon, because it causes so many marriage issues.
These are also some of causes for ED issue
Cardiovascular disease, Injuries, Damage due to surgery or cancer, Stress
Relationship problems, Anxiety, Alcohol intake, Drug addiction & Smoking
I take Cialis personally. And yes, our love making is “planned”, but the effects of Cialis stays in your system for 3 days. We do have some spontaneity and a lot of intimate moments within that time span.
Great article Sheila.
Another argument and he storming off to bed. Leaving me alone to hurt in silence.and all alone. 25 years of this. Then I find this forum. To hear other women going through same thing. The lack of entamacy has long left our marriage and sex has to. I’m angry and sad and lonely. But I love him now and always. He was my first everything and divorce is never the answer.though it has come up. Jesus is my rock . Thank you for this forum .
What about prostate issues?