11 Mar Erectile Dysfunction—Is It All in Your Head?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an unfortunately common condition that impacts adult men of all ages. And while it is more common in older men, men as young as their thirties are still struggling with erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is a condition that can be a condition on its own, caused by low testosterone in the body, or it can be a side effect that comes with different medications and treatments.

Erectile dysfunction is no laughing matter, especially for the many men who have a physical issue or health problem that makes it physically unable to get and maintain an erection. However, while erectile dysfunction can be a physical issue for many men—sometimes, this problem may be all in your head.

Experts have recently discovered that there are types of anxiety that are linked directly to sex—conditions such as Sexual Performance Anxiety that can cause issues with erectile dysfunction. In cases like this, there is no hormonal or physical issue (such as low T) that is causing erectile dysfunction.

Instead, with this condition, men experience such anxiety and become so uncomfortable and overwhelmed before or during sex that it makes it very difficult for them to perform sexually. While some men struggle to get or maintain an erection even if they feel aroused, others struggle with premature ejaculation.

While the reasons behind this type of anxiety can vary from person to person ranging from body image issues, nervousness, lack of confidence with penis size or sexual performance, stress, or relationship problems—when anxiety like this happens, it can be a serious stressor. Many times, these feelings can increase the number of stress-related hormones in the body, making sexual intercourse even more difficult.

It is important to understand that Sexual Performance Anxiety is a real issue, and one that is heavily linked to erectile dysfunction. With this in mind, before you start worrying about hormone treatments, you will want to get your hormone levels checked and speak to a doctor about the situations and feelings that are surrounding your issue with erectile dysfunction. With this information, your doctor will be able to determine if you need to treat the anxiety first. Often when your anxiety is under control, the improvements with your ED will follow.

If you are worried that your concerns with erectile dysfunction may be mental or anxiety-related, then give LT Men’s Clinic a call today to learn more. You can contact us at (817) 369-3605 to schedule an appointment with us, so we can help you determine the best solution to helping you overcome erectile dysfunction for good.