ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION CAUSES
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Erectile dysfunction stems from physical, psychological, and lifestyle factors that you and your partner can tackle together.
Don’t face ED alone. Open a conversation with your partner to treat erectile dysfunction with lifestyle changes and clinically proven ED treatments prescribed online by our medical team.
Erections Begin in The Brain
Getting an erection is a complex process. In response to sexual arousal, the brain triggers a chain reaction involving the penis, hormones, blood vessels, nerves and emotions. If even one part of this chain is off, it can be difficult to form an erection.
With the brain playing a key role in erections, psychological factors, such as anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, fear of sexual failure, guilt about sexual performance, and stress, may increase the risk of ED or worsen ED symptoms for many men.
Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Since erections result from healthy blood flow and involve the nervous system, ED is mainly caused by conditions that impact blood flow and nerve function.
Whether it’s cardiovascular issues limiting blood flow to the penis or conditions like obesity and metabolic syndrome causing changes in blood pressure and cholesterol, overall well-being plays a significant role. Damage to the nervous system from sources like multiple sclerosis (MS) or penis injuries can also contribute to ED.
Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Mental health issues such as depression and anxiety not only affect the ability to achieve and maintain an erection but also lower sexual desire and interest. High-stress levels may act as a primary trigger for ED, leading to difficulties in achieving and sustaining erections and further emphasising the role of mental well-being in both partners’ sexual experiences. Addressing the psychological causes of ED is essential for treating ED and fostering healthy relationships.
Explore erectile dysfunction treatments with hub.health
Medications and substances
Many commonly used prescription medications can affect the vascular and nervous systems, causing erectile dysfunction as a side effect. Other medications can affect the brain, making it more difficult to reach sexual arousal or sexual stimulation.
Medications that may cause or contribute to ED are medications for high blood pressure, antidepressants, antiandrogens for prostate cancer, some antihistamines, prescription sedatives for anxiety and sleeping conditions, and medications for Parkinson’s disease.
Alcohol is okay, in moderation
Drinking too much alcohol may impact the ability to achieve and maintain an erection. Alcohol acts as a depressant on the nervous system, impeding the proper blood flow needed for arousal, damaging the nerves responsible for initiating erections, and disrupting the vital balance of hormones for sexual function.
Healthy erections and nicotine don’t mix
As one of the main ingredients in cigarettes and vaping devices, nicotine has been shown to reduce sexual arousal in men. Nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes and vapes prevent the penile arteries from dilating to allow the required blood flow responsible for an erection.
Research published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine has suggested men who use e-cigarettes daily are more than twice as likely to have erectile dysfunction compared to those who never vape.
Find quit vaping treatments to support your sexual health.
It’s time to look after your health
At hub.health, our Australian based medical team will work with you to find the right erectile dysfunction treatment for your body and lifestyle.
Frequently asked questions
hub.health uses a secure digital health platform to provide discreet, convenient, and affordable access to erectile dysfunction treatment from an Australian based medical team, all from the privacy of your home.
After completing the online questionnaire, your assigned clinician will determine if you’re a candidate for ED treatment. If you’re successful, we’ll organise fast delivery to your door (we’ll even manage your repeats when they’re due). If our medical team identifies a potential risk in issuing ED treatment, they’ll likely refer you to an in-person GP for further review.
At hub.health, we believe in providing a personalised healthcare experience centred around the individual needs of our patients. Our services are backed by an established team of doctors, nurse practitioners, and medical experts, enabling us to provide services and treatments for various conditions. All treatments are prescribed online and discreetly delivered to your door for convenient and easy access to medical care.
By choosing hub.health, we’ll pair you with a medical team that specialises in erectile dysfunction so you can improve your sexual performance and last longer in the bedroom.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) states, “The most common first-line therapy for ED is a PDE5 inhibitor”. So, the hub.health medical team prescribe the most common PDE5 oral medications.
It’s recommended that ED medications should be taken 1-2 hours before sexual activity. If taken too close to sex, they may not ‘kick in’ quickly enough.
Oral ED medication is considered effective, with studies showing 82% of users reporting an improvement in their erections after using PDE5 inhibitors. However, it’s important to note that ED medication isn’t effective for everyone and response to medication will differ based upon individual circumstances.
If you’re still experiencing erectile dysfunction after trialling medication, your hub.health clinician may suggest trialling medication under different circumstances. They may also alter your dosage, depending on your reaction and side effects.
ED medication isn’t instant; it can take 15-minutes to 1-hour to start working. If ED medications don’t seem to work for you, try not to worry as there are other treatments available. Alternative ED treatments include injectable ED medications, urethral suppositories, vacuum constriction devices (penis pumps), and penile implants. If you’re concerned about the efficacy of ED treatment, always speak with your clinician who can investigate further.
ED drugs all work similarly and therefore share potential side effects of:
Mild reduction in blood pressure levels (caused by their effects on smooth muscle tissue and blood flow)
Mild headaches (associated with all ED drugs)
Dizziness
Muscle aches or back pain
Stuffy nose
Facial flushing
Vision issues, including temporary blurred vision and blue-tinted vision
Digestive issues, ranging from diarrhoea to indigestion, and bloating (can be worsened by consuming alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and dairy products)
These side effects typically occur while the medication is active in the body, however in some cases it is possible for side effects to linger for slightly longer than the drug.
It’s important to pay attention to these side effects, particularly if you have cardiovascular health conditions. If you use nitrates or other medications to treat hypertension, the lowered blood pressure caused by ED medications can be dangerous. That’s why it’s important to always provide honest, accurate answers on your questionnaire and during conversations with your hub.health doctor.
ED drugs all work similarly and therefore share potential side effects of:
Mild reduction in blood pressure levels (caused by their effects on smooth muscle tissue and blood flow)
Mild headaches (associated with all ED drugs)
Dizziness
Muscle aches or back pain
Stuffy nose
Facial flushing
Vision issues, including temporary blurred vision and blue-tinted vision
Digestive issues, ranging from diarrhoea to indigestion, and bloating (can be worsened by consuming alcohol, caffeine, carbonated drinks, and dairy products)
These side effects typically occur while the medication is active in the body, however in some cases it is possible for side effects to linger for slightly longer than the drug.
It’s important to pay attention to these side effects, particularly if you have cardiovascular health conditions. If you use nitrates or other medications to treat hypertension, the lowered blood pressure caused by ED medications can be dangerous. That’s why it’s important to always provide honest, accurate answers on your questionnaire and during conversations with your hub.health doctor.
Once your treatment has been paid for, we will ship with express delivery to anywhere in Australia, meaning your package should arrive within 1-3 days. Your product is shipped in an Australia Post package, which means it will be completely discreet.
Of course! If you log into your profile and head to the ‘Products’ tab, you will see a ‘Manage Treatment’ button. Click this and you’ll see the ability to send a message to your clinician. If you’re having any issues, just drop us a line at [email protected]
Yes, as part of joining hub.health, we will handle your repeat deliveries to ensure that you never miss one. If you ever wish to stop receiving your treatment, just cancel in the patient platform, or alternatively email [email protected]
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