Close to one in five adults in the United State alone live with some type of mental illness, which equates to nearly 47 million people. Looking specifically at post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), nearly 10% of the U.S. population will develop PTSD at some point in their lifetime.
Living with a mental illness can feel shameful or lonely, but more people are opening up about their experiences, thanks in part to efforts to normalize mental health issues and the medications used to treat them. Now, conversations are starting to shift to the need for awareness and treatment and away from stereotypes and stigmas.
Similarly, living with erectile dysfunction (ED) can feel embarrassing and men may not know where to go to seek help or realize that their mental health struggles may contribute to ED. This article describes how mental health is linked to erectile functioning, focusing on PTSD and erectile dysfunction, as well as exploring options for treatment and special considerations.
Mental Health and Erectile Functioning
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a complex condition that can be caused by a number of factors beyond penile function. For instance, ED can be caused by circulatory conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, or lifestyle-related conditions like obesity and smoking. In addition to these physical and lifestyle factors, ED is also affected by one’s mental health functioning, or psychological factors. That’s right, both a man’s hormones and his emotions can contribute to his performance in the bedroom.
Psychological factors that can contribute to ED:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Stress
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is another mental health condition that has been linked to ED. Many people associate PTSD with military service and time spent in combat (and ED has been documented in service members), but veterans are not the only people that can be diagnosed with PTSD. Anyone who directly experiences or witnesses a traumatic event could be at risk for developing PTSD.
Traumatic events that could lead to PTSD:
- Combat
- Being a victim of a crime
- Living through a natural disaster
- Surviving a terrifying accident
People diagnosed with PTSD may experience flashbacks of the traumatic event and anxious feelings that disrupt their daily lives. Further, PTSD can affect desire, arousal, and sexual satisfaction, potentially contributing to ED.
Addressing PTSD-induced ED
If you or your partner have been diagnosed with PTSD and are experiencing sexual dysfunction like ED, consider seeking support from a healthcare professional. Appropriate treatments may include therapy and prescription medications. You and your doctor can determine what, if any, anti-depressants are appropriate, but it is important to know that some anti-depressants can actually cause sexual dysfunction. Viagra is a popular medication prescribed to treat ED and, while it is effective in addressing circulation-related causes of ED, it can also be promising for men experiencing PTSD-induced ED. For many men living with PTSD, a combination of trauma-focused psychotherapy (and perhaps sex therapy) with an anti-depressant or Viagra may find many of their ED symptoms relieved.
Men shouldn’t feel ashamed of living with mental health issues like PTSD or experiencing erectile dysfunction. Both are treatable by healthcare professionals through therapies and medications, including Viagra. Talk to a healthcare professional to see if your mental health is affecting your sexual performance so you can work together to find the right treatment option(s) for you.
To learn more about using telemedicine to obtain ED medications like Viagra conveniently online, visit the eDrugstore Erectile Dysfunction page.
Kwynn holds a Master of Public Health and is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work. Her research examines the intersections of health, technology, and gender-based violence.