Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common sexual dysfunction and medical condition affecting tens of millions of men worldwide. ED, in a nutshell, is a condition where a man faces difficulties or is completely unable to produce or keep an erection hard enough for enjoyable, satisfying penetrative intercourse.
According to statistics from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), ED rates increased progressively from 8% in men between 40 to 49 years old to almost 78% in men 75 years and beyond. That basically means one in two men above the age of 40 will experience an ED episode at least once in their life.
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ED is caused by a variety of physical and psychological factors. Hormonal imbalances, for instance, maybe the underlying cause. So can circulatory conditions such as hypertension or cardiovascular disease. Other ED cases arise from trauma in the penile region, or as a result of surgery.
ED also can do a number on a man’s mental health and self-esteem – and this can easily spiral into anxiety and depression, creating a vicious cycle in doing so.
Here’s the thing: it’s not just men who are emotionally and psychologically affected by ED. Females do suffer from the knock-on effects of ED, particularly when it comes to blaming themselves and feeling guilty for their partners not having any interest in sex. They might feel the shame of rejection when their partner is disinterested in sex because of their difficulties or inability to produce an erection.
The human psyche and mental health are closely intertwined with overall well-being. For instance, female partners in relationships with ED patients are exposed to a higher risk of developing chronic illnesses. That’s not to mention the stress of dealing with a partner and coping with the embarrassment and anxiety brought on by erectile dysfunction.
All this stress isn’t helpful for either partner in the relationship, and ED often exacerbates already struggling relationships. Tense situations where couples are too ashamed to discuss sexual issues often give birth to relationship problems.
Clinical psychologists suggest that couples facing relationship issues due to erectile dysfunction should talk about the problem openly and outwardly before it causes real strain on their relationship.
After all, most men will have to deal with ED at some point, and it’s in how they manage it that matters.
Therefore, one of the best options for couples with ED-induced relationship problems is getting sex therapy. Qualified relationship therapists, for instance, can help couples detect and work through the psychological barriers that prevent them from enjoying a healthy sex life.
Lastly, there are plenty of medications that have been proven and tested to be safe and effective against ED. These include the PDE5 inhibitor drugs like sildenafil (Viagra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra®), and avanafil (Stendra®). A qualified healthcare practitioner may prescribe any of them depending on the severity and circumstances of a patient’s symptoms after discussing the issue to determine which treatment approach is best suited.
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Avoid obsessing over your partner’s ED – and vice-versa!
Erectile dysfunction doesn’t need to define your relationship, and neither should it be its focus. Sex is a vital and important part of any long-term relationship, but it’s not the be-all and end-all. If relationship issues keep popping up due to chronic erectile dysfunction, take a deep breath and refrain from treating it for just a minute. Try other methods like getting relationship counseling and working it out with your partner to address the problems openly – and identify anything that’s getting in the way of your collective sex life.
ED is something couples have to go through together. It’s not a death knell on your relationship. That’s not to diminish the severity of ED. It can be a challenging journey, and quite hard for some, but the important thing is to make the most out of it.
If boundaries are being crossed, and your partner refuses to seek the help that he might clearly need, then don’t stop that from taking the first step and taking care of yourself. There’s no shame in seeking therapy alone – it can only be a net positive for your relationship when you get help.
