The causes can be physical or psychological. It is also possible for an initially physically led cause for impotence to attract psychological issues too.
Physical Causes for Impotence or Erectile Dysfunction
1) Brain Damage
If the head had suffered trauma and/or brain has been damaged, then there is a possibility that the signals required for a healthy erection will not occur and impotence will result.
2) Diabetes
There is a higher possibility that someone with diabetes will suffer with impotence also. Conversely, and loss and or an inability to maintain an erection may be an indicator of diabetes.
3) Glandular
Glandular issues and those connected to the thyroid may have an adverse effect on love-making and lead to erectile dysfunction.
4) Drugs
Some drugs, both prescriptive and recreational may have side effects, one of which could be erectile dysfunction. Drugs that are prescribed for high-blood pressure may often be the cause of a loss of erection and therefore impotence. Some drugs prescribed for psychiatric conditions such as depression may also be a cause.
5) Injury to the Penis or Surrounding Area
Sometimes damage, whether temporary or otherwise to the penis may lead to a temporary loss of erection or discomfort if the area is tender.
Psychological Causes of Impotence ? Erectile Dysfunction
This refers to the way a man either thinks about what an erection and/or sex means to them or what they associate with the act of love-making.
1) Negative Conditioning
A man may have learnt from parents or other persons of influence that sex is in some way wrong or bad or have some other negative connotations. In attempting to perform sex these influences may reduce arousal and replace it with negative feelings leading to a loss of erection and impotence.
2) Criticism
A partner may have criticised a man either before after or during love-making. The next time the man makes love he may have that criticism on his mind. He will want to avoid being criticised again and may feel under pressure. The result of all this may be a loss of his erection.
3) Fear of Loss of Erection
Sometimes a man loses his erection during love-making which is perfectly normal. If the man believes this is not supposed to happen he may feel under pressure to keep his erection throughout love-making. This leads to anxiety and anxiety does not help maintain an erection.
4) Alcohol
Many men experience temporary impotence if they have been drinking excessively. This experience or memory may play on their minds and they may feel anxious during the next time they make love. Even though alcohol may not have been consumed on this subsequent occasion the man may lose his erection if this previous memory plays on his mind.
5) Partner or Marital Difficulties
If there is an issue or problem in the relationship, this may well have an impact on love-making and the result may be temporary impotence. Unfortunately the partner may compound the issue by saying something like ?you don?t love me anymore? after the man loses is erection.
6) Routine ? Loss of Excitement
In the majority of relationships the couple can settle down into a routine for love-making and one or both partners may lose interest because the initial excitement is no longer there. Each partner does the exact same thing during love-making and so it becomes more mechanical with less emotional input. If the sexual interest lessens impotence may result
Impotence and Erectile Dysfunction Conclusion
All of the above and more can lead to a fear of losing an erection. If the pattern is repeated during subsequent love-making this can have a negative and compounding impact on a man?s thoughts about making love. Often avoidance may be used as a strategy to cope. Unfortunately avoidance rarely resolves or releases a fear or impotence.
