Erectile function (ED) impacts many men, and while it might not be the easiest thing to deal with, ignoring the problem can be downright dangerous for a man’s health and a couple’s future. In this post, we’ll dig deeper.
According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), erectile dysfunction (ED) affects about 30 million men in the United States. In other words, the condition is far more common than most people think … or want to think about.
ED is not something any man or romantically involved couple looks forward to facing. Still, dealing with the problem is what you must do to avoid serious consequences – and not just your relationship.
If you or your partner is suffering from ED, you need to address the problem because the physical and emotional costs of pretending there is no problem can be downright devastating. Read on to learn five reasons why ignoring erectile dysfunction is bad for both of you.
Why You Shouldn’t Ignore Erectile Dysfunction
1. ED Can Signal Serious Health Conditions
First and foremost, it’s important to understand that ED is not a normal part of aging. Yes, it becomes more prevalent among males over 50, but the National Institutes of Health categorically states that ED, though common, should not be chalked up as part of the aging process.
Erectile dysfunction can, however, be a warning sign of more serious health conditions – most notably cardiovascular disease and diabetes. These conditions can damage or block blood vessels, negatively impacting circulation.
When this occurs, sometimes blood flow to the penis is compromised, and if not enough blood reaches the penis, a man will not be able to achieve a full and lasting erection. This is referred to as Vascular Erectile Dysfunction and is the most common type of ED.
The only way to tell if an ED is due to a medical condition is to have your doctor check it out. If you are on the younger side, say in your 30s or 40s, there’s a stronger likelihood that a medical condition might be causing your ED. Heart disease and diabetes are serious concerns, and the sooner you diagnose and treat them, the better the prognosis. Plus, if they are causing your erectile dysfunction, proper treatment might solve that problem once and for all.
2. He Feels Intense Shame That’s Hard to Overcome
We’re not talking a little embarrassed. We’re talking about crippling and unhealthy feelings of shame. Though it most certainly shouldn’t, erectile dysfunction still has unfounded stigmas attached to it – the most common being that those who experience it are “less masculine” than they should be or “can’t perform” like a man.
These stigmas may sound ridiculous to read (they are downright stupid). Nevertheless, they’re out there, and they can have debilitating consequences for any man who falls prey to this sort of thinking, including prompting him to withdraw both socially and sexually.
Even when the problem stays entirely between you, he may develop feelings of inadequacy that are difficult to overcome and spill over into other aspects of life. It’s not uncommon for a male experiencing ED to feel as though he has let his partner down, which can be very emotionally painful and even contribute to clinical depression.
3. The Partner Begins to Feel Inadequate
In a loving and healthy relationship, erectile dysfunction is just as much a problem for the partner as it is for the male experiencing it. Sometimes, partners can irrationally place the blame for ED on themselves.
Am I not attractive enough? Did I do something wrong that caused him to stop desiring me? Is he having an affair with someone else? What can I do differently to fix the situation? Does he really love me?
Countless questions and scenarios can run through a partner’s mind when erectile dysfunction enters a relationship, and sometimes, they lead to self-recrimination and even self-imposed body shaming.
4. Sexual Expression Becomes Something to Fear Rather Than Cherish
You’ve probably heard the term – performance anxiety. It’s a very real thing, and it can build up over time if erectile dysfunction is not addressed properly. What happens is that the idea of sex triggers feelings of fear and anxiety in the male experiencing it because he becomes confident that “he’s not going to work properly” or that he is broken.
Essentially, ED becomes its self-fulfilling prophecy, which makes overcoming it all the more difficult. More importantly, it turns something that should be a beautiful and desirable physical expression of love into a high-stress, high-anxiety problem. This debilitating affects both parties because the joy of being together, the closeness that was once shared, is stripped from the relationship.
5. An Otherwise Healthy Relationship Falls Apart
Other than the dangerous physical medical conditions that might cause erectile dysfunction, this is, perhaps, the scariest impact of ED if it is left untreated. The lack of physical intimacy that can result from erectile dysfunction, coupled with the fact that this lack of connection will undoubtedly continue as time goes on if nothing is done to remedy the situation, can cause a relationship to either implode or sadly fizzle out.
The bottom line is that sometimes, the stress that ED puts on both individuals and the relationship as a whole becomes too much to handle, and things fall apart. This is unfortunate because today, erectile dysfunction is highly treatable, and doing so is more affordable than ever before. Read on to learn how pointing and clicking might save your relationship!
How Can I Solve ED In My Relationship?
You’ve certainly heard about Viagra® and Cialis®. These ED medications are available in their highly affordable generic forms – sildenafil and tadalafil. Both of these medications have been proven effective at treating erectile dysfunction, but they require a physician’s prescription. However, you don’t have to visit your personal doctor’s office. Thanks to telemedicine advancements, you can now get a fully confidential ED evaluation from a medical doctor in your home. Just go online and visit MediSuite to learn more and have your ED medication delivered directly and discretely to your home.
ED is frustrating, but there is help, and for many couples, an easy-to-fill prescription of sildenafil or tadalafil makes all the difference in the world.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction, commonly referred to as ED, is the inability of a male to achieve and maintain an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse.
What causes ED?
Sometimes, ED is a symptom of another medical condition, such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes. In other cases, ED is caused by psychological factors, such as performance anxiety, work stress, relationship stress, and depression. Whatever the root cause of ED, it is essential to address the problem before it worsens. The best way to do that is to consult with a medical doctor.
Why are people unwilling to address ED?
ED is a sensitive subject. Males who suffer from it often find themselves also experiencing difficult emotions, such as guilt, shame, and embarrassment, which can make it more difficult to talk things out with a partner and seek solutions together. Partners in a relationship being impacted by ED can also experience feelings of inadequacy or frustration, which further compounds the situation.
Is there a cure for erectile dysfunction?
There are two primary medications, sildenafil, and tadalafil, that have been proven to help males overcome erectile dysfunction. Every person is different, so not every man will experience the same results on these medications. These are highly affordable generic medications, making them a cost-effective option for most couples.
MediSuite is committed to men’s healthcare by providing doctor-prescribed medications at affordable prices delivered directly and discreetly to your door.