What should you know about psychogenic impotence?

An erection depends on the brain, nerves, blood vessels, hormones and sexual stimulation. Anxiety about performance can increase alertness and muscle tension, making arousal harder. Relationship strain, low mood, grief, poor sleep or a previous disappointing experience may reinforce the cycle. Erections during sleep or on waking, or better erections in some situations, can offer useful clues but do not prove a purely psychological cause.

Erectile dysfunction may also be associated with Depression, Hypertension, Obesity or Type 2 Diabetes. Loss of Libido is different from difficulty maintaining an erection, although they can occur together.

Arrange a confidential GP Consultation if erection problems recur or cause distress. Share when the problem began, whether desire has changed, medicines and supplements, alcohol or recreational drug use, sleep, relationship context and any morning erections. Counselling, sex therapy, stress management and treatment of a physical contributor may be combined.

A clinician may check blood pressure, examine you and recommend a Blood Test or Diabetes Screening when your history suggests it. Do not buy unregulated erection medicines or combine treatments without medical advice.

Seek urgent help for an erection that is painful or does not settle, or for chest pain, severe breathlessness or collapse during sexual activity. Make a prompt appointment for sudden erectile change, penile injury, numbness, urinary symptoms or symptoms of a new medical illness.

Could my medicines or health conditions affect erections? Would counselling or sex therapy suit me? Do I need a Blood Test or Diabetes Screening? Which treatments are safe with my current medicines?