Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction - The Essential Facts Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6237312

Dear FriendsWhen erectile dysfunction occurs, the causes can be either psychological, or physiological, or both.

Either way, the effects of this disease can be devastating on sufferers (and their partners).

Where the cause is psychological, the good news is that there are no underlying health concerns to worry about. And there are a number of treatment options available.

Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction include:

• Low self esteem - lack of self-confidence can contribute to erectile dysfunction
• Anxiety - worrying about sexual performance is a major factor in psychological erectile dysfunction. Once a man has experienced ED, the fear of continued failure causes further anxiety, and can further exacerbate the condition
• Depression - this is a common cause of ED, and while some medications can be helpful for depression, certain anti-depressants are known to cause ED
• Relationship issues - being in a tense, non-supportive relationship, or in a relationship with unresolved conflicts, can cause ED
• Financial or work related stress
• Loss of interest in sex
• Reaction to physiological ED - where erectile dysfunction has physical or physiological causes, this in itself can cause performance anxiety, and can therefore contribute to physiological ED.

Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction from Psychological Causes

Counseling: Depending on the specific causes, there are a number of different types of qualified counselors or therapists available (ie psychologists, psychiatrists, relationship counselors, and specialized sex therapists). All of these specialists have a variety of techniques for dealing with, managing and overcoming psychological problems.

Stress Management: Besides counseling, any other activity that acts to reduce stress can be useful in overcoming psychological ED. Exercise is one of the best ways of alleviating stress. Besides the physical benefits, exercise also results in the release of endorphins in the body. Endorphins are the body's "feel good" chemical, and they are responsible for feelings of wellbeing, the release of sex hormones, for increasing our pain threshold, and for reducing the negative effects of stress.

Physiological causes of erectile dysfunction relate to the physical conditions that prevent blood from flowing to the penis. For an erection to occur, strong blood flow to the penis is required. This results in the blood vessels in the penis becoming engorged, thus producing an erection. Anything that interferes with this process is a physiological cause, and these include:read more

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6237312