Other problems that can lead to erectile dysfunction include the following:
Prostatitis.
This inflammation of the prostate gland can be either acute (usually caused by a bacterial infection) or chronic (usually not caused by an infectious agent). Symptoms include pain during urination, more frequent urination, and -- possibly -- a discharge from the penis or fever. Severe prostatitis can cause erectile dysfunction directly. In milder forms, the condition can produce painful ejaculation, which can certainly interfere with sexual pleasure and may lead to erectile dysfunction. Your doctor may prescribe antibiotics to treat the problem, but it can take several weeks for the infection to clear and for normal erections to return.
Peyronie's disease.
In this uncommon disorder, some of the connective tissue inside the penis thickens, causing the penis to bend at an angle when erect. When the condition affects the tissue involved in erections, it can cause erectile dysfunction. Peyronie's disease is most common in men over age 40. Many treatments -- including oral vitamin E, verapamil injections, and ultrasound -- have been tried, but their effectiveness is uncertain, in part because the problem sometimes improves on its own. When the problem is severe enough to cause pain during intercourse or prevent penetration, surgery may be needed to straighten the penis.
Injury.
An injury to any of the nerves and arteries necessary for an erection can lead to erectile dysfunction. A pelvic fracture can cause these kinds of injuries because many nerves and arteries run along the pelvic bones. In addition, injury to the brain, spinal cord, abdomen, or, of course, the penis can impair nerves or blood vessels involved in erections. Such a problem may be temporary or permanent, depending on the severity of the injury. Even something as commonplace as prolonged exercising on a rowing machine or bicycling on a seat that's too hard can cause erectile dysfunction by injuring some of the nerves or arteries in and around the penis In many cases, cutting back on such forms of exercise or, for example, switching to a softer, wider bicycle seat will solve the problem.
Avid bikers beware
Can riding your bike for long periods cause temporary erectile difficulties? One study suggests that in certain circumstances, bike riding can damage nerves and compress arteries in the penis, possibly leading to erectile problems. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study found that the risk was highest among men who cycled more than three hours a week. The reason avid bikers sometimes get erectile dysfunction is that the seat puts pressure on the perineum, the area between the genitals and anus. This pressure can harm nerves and temporarily impede blood flow, causing tingling or numbness in the penis and, eventually, erectile dysfunction. However, a different type of bike may help: A German study found that riding a conventional bicycle caused a dramatic (though temporary) drop in oxygen supply to the penis, but that riding a recumbent bicycle did not.
If you don't want to switch bikes, you may be able to prevent cycling-related erectile problems by taking a few simple precautions:
Consider wearing padded biking pants for extra protection.
Raise the handlebars so that you're sitting relatively upright. This position will shift the pressure away from the perineum to the buttocks.
Get a wide, well-padded bicycle seat to absorb the impact of the ride. A gel-filled seat is a good choice. Narrow seats place the most pressure on the perineum.
Position the seat so that it puts minimal pressure on the perineum. Make sure the seat is not so high that your legs are fully extended at the bottom of your pedal stroke. Don't tilt the seat up.
If you feel tingling or numbness in your penis, stop riding for a week or two. These are warning signs that your bike ride could lead to erectile problems. Even if you don't feel any warning symptoms, it's a good idea to change your position and take breaks during long rides.
If you don't want to switch bikes, you may be able to prevent cycling-related erectile problems by taking a few simple precautions:
Consider wearing padded biking pants for extra protection.
Raise the handlebars so that you're sitting relatively upright. This position will shift the pressure away from the perineum to the buttocks.
Get a wide, well-padded bicycle seat to absorb the impact of the ride. A gel-filled seat is a good choice. Narrow seats place the most pressure on the perineum.
Position the seat so that it puts minimal pressure on the perineum. Make sure the seat is not so high that your legs are fully extended at the bottom of your pedal stroke. Don't tilt the seat up.
If you feel tingling or numbness in your penis, stop riding for a week or two. These are warning signs that your bike ride could lead to erectile problems. Even if you don't feel any warning symptoms, it's a good idea to change your position and take breaks during long rides.
