Middle-aged men older than 40 years are most often prone to sexual disorders. But these days, younger men in many countries, including the United States, started seeking assistance from andrologists and sexologists. Erectile dysfunction in men younger than 30 years may manifest for several reasons.
There are three main types of erectile dysfunction in men:
- physical;
- psychological;
- iatrogenic (drug).
The causes of physical sexual dysfunction are serious diseases (incl. atherosclerosis, diabetes, etc.), hormonal disorders or the central nervous system damages. Psychological sexual disorders may result from problematic relationship with the opposite sex, trauma, etc.
Iatrogenic erectile dysfunction develops because of long-term use of certain drugs, whose side effect is the potency inhibition. Drug-induced erectile dysfunction also may be caused by the surgery on the prostate or perineum area.
If physical sexual disorders are more characteristic to middle or old aged men, psychological and iatrogenic erectile dysfunction is most often seen in men younger than 30 years. Unlike physical and iatrogenic sexual dysfunction, which develop gradually, psychological erectile dysfunction occurs suddenly.
The causes of psychological erectile dysfunction are:
- psychological trauma inflicted at an early age;
- frequent stress or strong emotion;
- indifference from the sexual partner;
- fear of contracting any sexually transmitted disease or an unwanted pregnancy;
- fear of fail in satisfying the partner;
- low or high self-esteem.
Signs of psychological sexual dysfunction are fairly obvious. Men may easily recognize them on their own. If a man has occasional night and morning erections or impotence directly during a sexual intercourse, it is the first signs of psychological erectile dysfunction.
Possible additional indicators of psychological erectile dysfunction include:
- unexpressed sexual desire, or total lack of willingness to engage in sexual relations;
- early ejaculation, or lack thereof;
- difficulty in achieving an orgasm.
The first treatment stage of psychological erectile dysfunction in men younger than 30 years involves a professional therapist advice. Psychological assistance in sexual disorders includes three main stages:
- individual interviews with the man;
- psychotherapeutic work with the partner’s involvement;
- group psychotherapy with other couples.
The first stage of psychological assistance usually does not take much time. A few conversations with a man are usually enough for an experienced psychotherapist to reveal the psychological causes of sexual dysfunction. All the problems and complexes are often conquered in 5-10 psychotherapy sessions.
The primary task of the doctor-therapist in the first stage is the formation of personal, trusting relationship with a man. The quality of care that a doctor can provide depends on how truly patient talks about his problems.
The sexual partner of the man starts attending counseling psychotherapy in the second phase of treatment. At this stage, psychotherapist encourages the couple to analyze their relationship. The main objective of the work in tandem is improving mutual understanding between the partners.
Counseling at the second stage is carried out in an atmosphere of security and anonymity. Typically, partners will need to abstain from sexual intercourse during the entire period of the second psychological assistance stage.
At the partners’ request, psychological help in the treatment of erectile dysfunction may also include a third stage. Other couples are involved at this stage of the psychological counseling. They share the necessary experience and give advice to each other on the most effective way in overcoming the crisis of sexual relations.
Professional psychotherapists’ assistance in overcoming the psychological erectile dysfunction is effective in 90% of cases. However, if sexual problems have not disappeared, you may proceed with the drug treatment.
Anti-anxiety are the first drugs, prescribed in the drug treatment, since the psychological erectile dysfunction is mainly caused by stresses and neuroses. The use of anxiolytics and tranquilizers helps relieving stress, eliminating fear and anxiety.
You may try using drugs for erection improvement, if the sedatives turn ineffective. These popular in the US drugs include Viagra, Cialis and Levitra. They act only during sexual arousal, and their long-term use may improve the potency and quality of sexual life.
For men younger than 30 years, it is essential to cope with the first signs of erectile dysfunction. Other risk factors for sexual disorders, besides psychological, accumulate during the age of 30 to 50 years:
- metabolic disorders;
- diabetes;
- bad habits.
The main factor of sexual disorders emergence in middle age is the depletion or loss of spinal cord nerves that are responsible for the occurrence of erection and ejaculation. The neuro-receptor or spinal erectile dysfunction is characterized by:
- presence of sexual desire;
- spontaneous and short-term erections;
- rapid ejaculation;
- frequent nocturnal emissions.
The treatment of spinal erectile dysfunction involves the use of electrical stimulation of debilitated muscles through a special apparatus. Variable pulsed electric currents help to improve blood circulation and stimulate the weakened muscles.
Inflammation of the prostate is possible in spinal sexual dysfunction. Electrical stimulation method is also used in this case, providing an effect over the prostate, as well. The procedure is done through the rectum. It helps improve blood circulation and relieves inflammation.
According to statistics, about 30 million. men in the United States suffer from erectile dysfunction. These include about 5% – between the ages of 20 and 39, 4% – men from 50 to 60 years, 17% – over 60 years, and 47% – over 75 years. Methods for the treatment of sexual disorders vary depending on the man’s age.