Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction

It is known that only 10% of the cases of erectile dysfunction reported worldwide are determined by psychological factors. However rare, psychogenic impotence is also attention worthy and, nevertheless, just as treatable as organic ED. This possible risk factors threatening the erective function include: stress, anxiety, guilt, depression as well as low self esteem, grief, unemployment, financial problems, fatigue, bereavement or unresolved gay feelings. Problems or conflictual situations that may appear in a relationship affect man's potency, although by far the most notorious psychological cause for ED is the bereavement - recent loss of a loved one.

Depression as well as antidepressant medications are not sexually friendly and cause erective failure.
Performance anxiety is responsible for psychogenic impotence and is, usually, the result of stress and anxiety exposure. It is the fear of sexual failure and, once enhanced, it becomes difficult to get normal erections. Despite all that, psychologists claim performance anxiety can also be successfully treated. A Romanian psychologist, Liliana Stoian, Chief Doctor in the Psychology Clinic, Titan Hospital, Bucharest, Romania, claims to have cured ED patients in 3-5 months having as unique risk factor performance anxiety. She says previous treatments failed because the patient felt an obligation to perform sexual intercourse to his partner even during therapy, therefore doctor's Liliana Stoian first move was to forbid both the patient and his partner sexual activity for a non-determined period of time. Medical authority was meant to relax the patient and prevent the partner from reproaching the lack of sex and response. Doctor Liliana Stoian also says that her method had nothing but wonderful results in that all patients confessed in up to five months to have broken her advice and performed sexual intercourse….. which was in fact the awaited effect.

Psychological causes represent 10% of all cases of ED and may have relations with childhood abuse or sexual trauma.

• Stress - is one of the most determining fact in ED that have psychological causes. Stress can be job related, money related or a result of marital problems.
• Anxiety - performance anxiety is also a commune problem that causes ED. Men are worried that their sexual performance will not be as expected.
• Guilt - erectile dysfunction can appear when a man is feeling guilty because he is not satisfying his partner.
• Depression - have a direct effect on a men's libido and can affect his sexual live. Also drugs used to treat depression are causing erectile dysfunction.