勃起功能障碍是不可避免的吗？

Erectile dysfunction (ED)is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough to have sexual intercourse.

Some people may assume ED increases with age. The fact is that the inability to maintain an erection isn’t always age-related.

衰老并不一定意味着您注定要无限期地发展ED。尽管年龄可以增加ED的风险，但有多种方法可以治疗它。

Learn more about the risks and treatment options.

男性性唤醒似乎很简单，但这取决于身体内部的精确，复杂的事件顺序。

The brain activates nerves in the penis to relax muscles in the spongy tissues that run the length of the penis. When these muscles relax, blood can flow in from arteries to fill open spaces in the spongy tissue.

血压升高会扩大阴茎。海绵组织周围的膜维持勃起。

任何中断此序列的东西都可能导致无法进行或保持勃起足够长的时间进行性交。

埃德通常与变老有关。尽管Ed的频率确实会随着年龄的增长而增加，但无论您的年龄如何，都可以治疗，并且不像您想象的那样不可避免。

实际上，ED可能有许多与衰老无关的原因。

There are many physical causes of ED. Any one of these can disrupt the sequence of physiological changes that produces an erection:

激素睾丸激素会影响一个人的性欲和能量水平，这些性驱动力和能量水平控制着大脑的唤醒冲动。

糖尿病还会损害神经，以提高血液流向生殖器区域的神经。

According to the美国糖尿病协会，与没有糖尿病的男人相比，一个2型糖尿病的男性的睾丸激素可能低两倍。

您的医生可以测试与糖尿病和低睾丸激素有关的神经损伤。同样，从心脏病和动脉堵塞中血液流动的任何收缩都会阻碍勃起。

ED不一定与年龄或慢性疾病有关。

Other common causes include:

  • heavy alcohol consumption
  • 烟草的使用
  • 处方药
  • anxiety
  • depression

Alcohol slows nerve communications within the brain and throughout the body, which can affect arousal signals and physical coordination.

Tobacco not only restricts blood flow, but can lead to serious diseases that may further impair sexual function.

Medications can also affect people differently. A drug that decreases sexual performance in one person might not in another.

可能导致性功能障碍的常见药物类型包括：

心理和情感压力源也会抑制性唤醒。

Nervous about tomorrow’s sales presentation at work? Grieving a parent’s death? Angry or hurt by arguments with your spouse? Any of these can interfere with your feelings of sexual desire.

Plus, not having or sustaining an erection — even once, for any reason — can spiral into greater anxiety and perhaps doubts about your sexual abilities and self-esteem.

好消息是，您可以管理ED的大部分身体和情感原因。

For example, you can:

  • 减肥
  • 戒烟
  • try to improve your relationship or communicate better with your sexual partner
  • 练习对压力的健康反应

这样的策略可能需要一些研究和反复试验，以发现最适合您的方法。请务必与您的医生交谈，以解决您的ED的任何潜在原因。

Here are some tips to talk to your partner about sex.

The risk for ED can increase with age because of naturally decreasing levels of testosterone. Still, testosterone and age aren’t the sole factors in achieving an erection.

ED的大多数原因与年龄没有直接关系，而是其他潜在的医学问题。

您的医生可以通过血液检查以及身体和社会心理检查来确定ED的原因。甚至可能有一个以上的根本原因。

Once the problem is properly identified, ED can be treated so you can lead a happier, healthier life.