Key information about impotence and stress

Even the healthiest of men, in certain circumstances, can fail to get an erection firm enough to have satisfactory sex. In a worst case scenario, a man will not be capable, when fully aroused, of achieving an erection at all. These conditions, known as primary and secondary impotence affect approximately 10% of the UK male population. It's suggested that seven in 10 cases will be a result of physical factors and the remaining three happen because of a psychological catalyst, such as stress, anxiety or depression.

How does stress impair erectile functioning?

Unbeknown to many, the daily stresses of life can have a bearing on how often you achieve an erection and whether or not you are able to please your partner during sex. Stress intensifies the production of adrenaline and nor-adrenaline, two hormones known for their erection-inhibitor properties. The onset of stress also lowers your levels of nitric oxide, which is a muscle relaxant. Furthermore, when you are stressed, your nerve impulses constrict vessels and smooth muscles in the penis, this is responsible for reduced blood flow. Without the necessary volume of blood pumping to your penis and staying there during arousal, you will be unable to achieve a firm erection.

The knock-on effect of stress

Guilt, anger, resentment, self-doubt and depression are among the emotional upshots of stress that contribute to low libido. When these types of feelings enter into your head it becomes hard to motivate yourself to have sex, let alone perform to your best under such pressure.

Millions of men will find that performance anxiety is the stumbling block to their sexual confidence. The initial fear of taking part in sexual activity is enough to emotionally scar a man to the extent that each time he is faced with an opportunity to be intimate with a partner he will fail to get an erection. What more or less happens is that he becomes so concerned about not being able to get an erection that he cannot relax during sex. It's essentially a vicious mental cycle.

Depression and impotence

Depression is considered one of the more powerful erection-inhibitors, as it can serve as a cause and consequence of erectile failure. There's no doubting that stress will get the better of you at some point in your life, but if it isn't handled well it will produce sleepless nights, overeating and other familiar short-term behavioural problems. You may be surprised to know that will disrupt your sex life also as it is said that 40% of men over the age of 40 suffer from stress-induced impotence. When impotence happens because of stress, it's only natural to feel depressed but it's important not to let it get you down, failing to do so can prolong bouts of depression, during which negative messages are sent to your brain that interfere with the erection process.

How can stress-induced impotence be treated?

You should always seek the guidance of a trained medical professional when pursuing a solution for impotence. Stress, depression and anxiety can be temporary and cases brought on by these factors may not require the treatment.

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