Can Depression Cause Erectile Dysfunction
Can depression cause erectile dysfunction? Erectile dysfunction usually has a physical cause, but in between 10 and 20 percent of cases the cause of ED is psychological. In addition, even when erectile dysfunction is caused by a physical factor, psychological issues such as depression, stress, fear, guilt, and anger can play a significant role in preventing men from achieving an erection. These factors are often a secondary reaction to an underlying physical cause.
For example, if you have been experiencing erectile dysfunction, you may become overly worried and anxious that the problem will not go away, which can result in performance anxiety and thus consistent erectile dysfunction. Or if you have been experiencing financial or marital problems, the stress can negatively affect your ability to get an erection. When you consider the question, can depression cause erectile dysfunction, you may discover that depression presents a catch-22 situation, in that some antidepressants and other drugs can also cause erectile dysfunction as well as be used to treat it.
As you can see, uncovering the causes of erectile dysfunction is not always a simple matter. Men and their partners, as well as their physicians, should consider the possibility of depression and other psychological factors that may be involved in a man’s inability to achieve and maintain an erection. Fortunately, there are treatment options for any man who may be dealing with depression as a cause of ED.
Erectile dysfunction that has a psychological cause may be eliminated by counseling and/or sex therapy by a professional counselor or psychologist who has experience in sexual issues. Some men are reluctant to seek this type of help, but if you have an understanding and cooperative partner, it can be a very positive part of your relationship. You should see a doctor to determine whether your erectile dysfunction has a physical cause as well. Read More on Getting Help with ED
