Most men have had some type of sexual problem in their lives. The most common issues include performance anxiety and erectile dysfunction (ED).
Performance anxiety happens when you feel stress about your body image or your ability to please your partner. It can lead to ED. Men dealing with ED have a hard time getting and keeping an erection.
Causes
Performance anxiety is caused primarily by negative thoughts. These thoughts can be related to sex or issues in your daily life. Men can feel pressured to please their partners or feel insecure about their ability to perform sexually. Fear and anxiety about penis size and body image could also play a role in performance anxiety. Other causes of performance anxiety may include stress about:
- work;
- relationships;
- kids or other family members;
- finances.
ED can be triggered by different physical and psychological factors, including performance anxiety.
Other causes of ED can include:
- blood vessel disorders;
- neurological disorders, such as multiple sclerosis;
- stroke or nerve damage from diabetes;
- stress;
- depression;
- lack of motivation;
- traumatic injury;
- low testosterone levels;
- chronic illness;
- prostate, bladder, and colon cancer surgeries;
- smoking;
- kidney problems;
- alcohol or substance abuse.
Certain medications can also cause ED because of their effect on hormones, nerves, or blood circulation.
ED is a common side effect of:
- diuretics;
- high blood pressure medication;
- antihistamines;
- antidepressants;
- drugs for irregular heart action;
- Parkinson’s disease drugs;
- tranquilizers;
- muscle relaxers;
- hormones;
- chemotherapy drugs;
- prostate cancer drugs;
- anti-seizure pills;
- anti-inflammatories.
Symptoms
Performance anxiety affects men in different ways. In addition to ED, performance anxiety may lead to:
- premature ejaculation;
- delayed or blocked ejaculation;
- loss of sexual interest.
Erectile dysfunction has its own set of symptoms, including:
- problems becoming erect;
- trouble keeping an erection;
- loss of sexual desire.
Seeking Help
If your performance anxiety persists or if it happens more frequently it is the time to seek help. The earlier you visit a doctor, the sooner you can learn techniques to deal with any negative thoughts, fear, and stress. You may also be able to rule out other conditions that could be affecting your ability to perform. Be sure to contact our expert to get a free consultation if you require it.
Treatment
There are many ways you can manage performance anxiety. If your performance anxiety is causing ED, treating the performance anxiety may also help reduce ED.
Performance anxiety is a completely normal and treatable type of sexual dysfunction. If you also have ED, your performance anxiety may be the cause. It’s important to see a doctor if you’re having sexual dysfunction so that they can rule out underlying causes and help you manage your symptoms.
Contact one of our medical experts to ask any questions concerning your particular problem and find the proper treatment method.