Is Erectile Dysfunction All in Your Head? Understanding Psychogenic ED and the Power of Confidence

Aug 22, 2024

 

Estimates presented by the National Institutes of Health suggest that more than half of all males over the age of 40 will experience erectile dysfunction. Many of these will suffer from what’s referred to as psychogenic ED.

 

Erectile dysfunction is a complicated condition in large part because there are so many possible causes. ED is often related to other medical conditions, such as vascular disease, high cholesterol, clogged arteries, and hypertension, all of which can impact blood flow to the penis and impede the natural process of achieving an erection, in which the body rushes blood to the chambers of the penis causing the organ to expand and harden.

Surgical procedures, such as those used to treat prostate cancer, can also lead to erectile dysfunction, as can having too much alcohol in one night or abusing it over the long term.

In cases such as these, any difficulty a man has achieved an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse is entirely physical. These medical reasons for ED represent the majority of diagnoses. But there’s another form of erectile dysfunction that is particularly common in younger men. It’s called psychogenic ED.

 

What is Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction?

Psychogenic ED, once commonly referred to as psychological impotence and often called performance anxiety, leads to the very same result as all the physical causes for erectile dysfunction – a man fails to achieve an erection.

However, in psychogenic ED, the root of the problem is entirely mental and emotional. The body and the penis are functioning properly. There are no clogged arteries or circulatory issues in play.

Essentially, a guy’s big head starts messing with his little one, and it’s more common than you might think. About 40% of ED cases are considered to be psychogenic. It might be due to bouts of depression, low self-esteem, work stress, or unresolved relationship issues that put the brakes on sexual desire. It might also simply be the result of severe anxiety over sexual performance – the fear that you will not be able to get hard enough or last long enough to please your partner.

It is not uncommon for a male to experience intermittent problems achieving an erection. But when the problem occurs over multiple sexual encounters and begins to happen regularly, it can take root in the psyche, crush a man’s confidence, and snowball to the point it becomes psychogenic ED.

Once this happens, the problem is not likely to resolve itself, which can lead to avoiding sexual encounters entirely and cause severe problems in an otherwise healthy and loving relationship.

 

Gaining Confidence Through ED Medications

Prescription ED medications like Viagra® and Cialis® (sildenafil and tadalafil, respectively, in their generic forms) are not only effective at treating the physical causes of erectile dysfunction, but they have also been shown to work wonders for men suffering from psychogenic ED.

A study published back in 2013 in the International Journal of Impotence Research that studied 2000 men who have erectile dysfunction who began taking tadalafil one-a-day doses showed these men recorded an astonishing 85% leap in sexual confidence thanks to an increase in erections, which led to the rise in confidence and, ultimately, greater sexual performance and pleasure.

Another study published by the National Institutes of Health studied men treated with sildenafil and found equally impressive results, stating that in males from five different nations, the drug produced substantial improvements in self-esteem, confidence, and sexual relationship satisfaction. These improvements were tangibly correlated with improvements in erectile function.

Psychogenic ED may be all in the head, but the physical manifestation of it can be incredibly demoralizing – eroding confidence, ruining the joy of healthy sex, and damaging solid relationships.

So, if a dose of confidence in the form of generic Viagra or Cialis can help, why not give one of these proven and popular ED medications a try? Especially because today, the prices of these prescriptions are a fraction of what they were in the years before the generic forms of the medications became available.

Ready to tackle ED? MediSuite offers telemedicine consultations with MDs who will guide you in choosing medications and writing your prescription on the spot. Your physician can also submit a prescription by phone, fax, or eScript, or you can mail us a written prescription. Whichever option works best for you, we’re here to help and provide the best possible prices on both sildenafil and tadalafil. We’ll deliver your ED medication directly and discreetly to your home in 2-4 business days.

 

Will ED Meds Work For You?

Whether you are suffering from psychogenic ED or a physical condition is causing it, medications like sildenafil and tadalafil have proven to be among the most effective solutions.

If your ED issue is psychogenic, there is one caveat. You must have an active libido for these drugs to be effective. In other words, you have to want to have sex. Taking them will not necessarily help you achieve an erection if you have a reduced desire for sexual activity.

For most men suffering from performance anxiety, however, ED medications do the trick and, more importantly, serve as a lasting confidence builder. Many men with psychogenic ED no longer require medications to achieve an erection once they’ve regained their self-confidence.

 

FAQs

What is psychogenic ED?

While many ED cases are due to physical conditions, such as vascular disease, hypertension, and specific surgical procedures, ED can also be caused by mental and emotional stresses. Depression, anxiety, and low self-confidence can lead to erectile dysfunction. When the root cause of ED is mental or emotional, it is referred to as psychogenic ED.

 

Which works better, sildenafil or tadalafil?

They are both proven to be effective at treating erectile dysfunction. It depends on which medication works best for you and your lifestyle. That said, many men suffering from psychogenic ED choose tadalafil (generic Cialis) because it stays in the system longer, allowing sex to be more spontaneous.

 

Do I need a prescription to purchase sildenafil or tadalafil online?

Yes, both medications require a doctor’s prescription. At MediSuite, your physician can submit a prescription by phone, fax, or eScript. You’re also welcome to save time by getting your prescription from an authorized MD using our telemedicine option.

 

MediSuite is committed to men’s healthcare by providing doctor-prescribed medications at affordable prices delivered directly and discreetly to your door.