The Surprising Link Between ED and Kidney Disease

Highlights 

• 70-80% of men suffering from chronic kidney disease also experience erectile dysfunction.

• The strong link between ED and chronic kidney disease means ED may be an early sign of CKD.

• Always tell your doctor if you have ED, as it may indicate other, more severe diseases.

• To fight ED, optimize the management of your kidney disease. 

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects hundreds of millions of men worldwide. Researchers expect that by 2025, around 322 million men will suffer from ED worldwide.

According to the University of Wisconsin, by the age of 50, around 50% of men experience some form of ED. Often, ED comes with urinary problems we are all too quick to write off as natural parts of aging and turn into jokes. There is nothing funny about ED and kidney disease, however. And the two appear to be connected.

Doctors often see ED as the proverbial canary in the coal mine; it can herald other problems like heart disease and chronic kidney disease (CKD).

What Is Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD)?

Your kidneys perform an impressive variety of functions to keep you alive. They:

• Filter toxins, waste products, and excess ions from your blood and eliminate them through urine
• Reabsorb the compounds your body needs, like amino acids and glucose
• Secrete the toxins still in your blood and capture them through the renal tubules
• Adjust the concentration of water and ions in the urine to maintain the fluid and electrolyte balance of the body

When the kidneys fail to perform optimally, problems happen throughout your body. Toxins remain in the blood, causing nausea, vomiting, and itching. The fluid and electrolyte balance of the body falls into disarray, possibly provoking dangerous cardiac arrhythmias. Anemia occurs with acid/base imbalance. Heart attacks and strokes may happen as the blood pressure spikes. If your kidneys fail, you can’t survive without medical assistance.

Why do kidneys fail? High blood pressure damages the blood vessels all over the body, including the kidneys. The kidneys depend on a consistent blood flow to function properly, so vascular damage impedes the functioning of the kidneys, leading to high blood pressure. In turn, higher blood pressure further damages the kidneys, creating a vicious cycle of damage.

Diabetes can also cause damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys. When it goes undetected and uncontrolled, it can cause renal failure and disease. Diabetes is the leading cause of CKD, and erectile dysfunction may be an important warning for both.

Other conditions that can cause kidney disease are:

• Polycystic kidney disease
• Recurrent kidney infections
• Lupus and other systemic diseases
• The prolonged use of some medications
• Interstitial nephritis
• Smoking
• Aging
• Obesity

In addition to causing high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease often also causes erectile dysfunction in men.

The High Prevalence of ED in Men with CKD

Can kidney disease cause erectile dysfunction? It absolutely can.

ED and kidney disease often go hand-in-hand. 

ED is a common consequence of CKD in men suffering from the disease. According to scientific statistics, around 70-80% of men suffering from kidney diseases have ED.

Erectile function is a complex phenomenon involving the endocrine, neurologic, and vascular systems. Chronic kidney disease can affect one or all of these systems. It can also trigger or contribute to diseases like hypertension, diabetes, and atherosclerosis, which can all result in ED.

There may be a strong connection between dialysis and erectile dysfunction as well. Studies show there is a significant improvement in ED after a kidney transplant when dialysis is no longer necessary. This isn’t because dialysis causes ED, but because it doesn’t do the job as well as healthy kidneys can.

How Kidney Disease Can Cause ED

Kidney disease is a severe and profound problem that affects every facet of your health. Therefore, erectile dysfunction and kidney disease often go together. CKD contributes to erectile dysfunction in many different ways:

• Vascular problems. CKD can cause high blood pressure, elevated cholesterol levels, problems with the inner lining of blood vessels, thrombosis, and calcification. The thinner veins of the penis are among the first to experience these effects.
• Hormonal imbalances. Men with CKD often experience a drop in their testosterone levels, rendering them unable to achieve erections. Anemia may also occur.
• Nerve damage. As toxins and waste products build up in the blood due to failing kidneys, they trigger a condition called uremic neuropathy, which causes damage to the nerves, including those responsible for erectile function.
• Medication side effects. Some medications used to treat CKD, like diuretics, beta-blockers, and ACE inhibitors, can cause ED as a side effect.
• Psychological factors. CKD is a chronic illness that is extremely taxing, not only on the body, but on one’s psychological health as well. Patients may experience anxiety, depression, and stress that may further reduce their libido and erectile function.

ED as an Early Warning Sign

Many illnesses and conditions may cause erectile dysfunction. Sometimes, erectile dysfunction is the first symptom of a difficult-to-detect condition. Doctors often consider ED a canary in a coal mine.

It can indicate:

• Cardiovascular diseases
• High cholesterol levels
• Chronic kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Hormonal imbalances
• Prostate disorders
• Neurological problems

ED is a taboo subject for many men. Embarrassed to admit their youthful virility may be failing, they avoid the problem when talking to their doctors. Don’t be one of these patients.

ED may be a sign of a serious illness. Your doctor sees it for what it is: a sign that something more profound may be wrong with your health. A healthcare professional will never judge you for having ED. It is a matter of medical concern, not judgment.

Talk to your doctor about your ED — it could literally save your life.

Managing ED From Kidney Disease

ED and kidney disease are so closely interwoven on so many levels that the only right approach to ED management is a multi-faceted one. Your first step should be to optimize your kidney disease management.

Assuming that your chronic kidney disease and ED work in lockstep, your best bet is to get your CKD under control. To that end, make the lifestyle changes your doctor recommends. Quit drinking and smoking, and get to a healthy body weight.

Here’s what else you can do to manage your CKD and the ED it causes:

• Underlying health conditions. Address the health problems that may contribute to your CKD, like hormonal imbalances, poor dietary choices, high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.
• Review your medications. Some medications you take for CKD may affect your erections. Talk to your doctor about alternatives to these drugs.
• Balance your diet. Avoid sodium and cholesterol-rich foods. Focus on lean proteins, whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.
• Testosterone replacement therapy. TRT may help erectile function in some patients. Doctors use TRT in CKD cases with caution as it can complicate some problems.
• Psychological counseling. Counseling can address stress, anxiety, and depression in individuals with CKD, improving erectile function.

Kidney Disease and ED Medications

When treating people with kidney disease, doctors must be very cautious when prescribing PDE-5 inhibitors, like Viagra, Cialis, vardenafil, and Stendra. Kidney disease affects how the body processes and eliminates medications, potentially causing a buildup of these drugs in the system.

This accumulation can lead to serious side effects such as low blood pressure, headaches, or a painful, prolonged erection known as priapism.

What’s more, many individuals with kidney disease also suffer from other health issues like diabetes and high blood pressure, which can complicate the use of these drugs. With proper adjustments to the dosage and close medical supervision, PDE-5 inhibitors can be safely used by some men with kidney disease. For others, the risks might outweigh the benefits.

This is why they are available by prescription only: They require supervision by a healthcare professional familiar with all of these complex interactions. It is also why you shouldn’t use any supplements advertised as medications for ED.

If you have erectile dysfunction from kidney disease, ask your doctor if oral ED medications are suitable for you and if so, at what dosage. Depending on the severity of your disease, alternative treatments may be a safer choice.

eDrugstore Can Help

Chronic kidney disease and ED often go hand-in-hand. However, having CKD isn’t necessarily the death knell for your erections. If you manage your disease well, you can disrupt the link between kidney failure and erectile dysfunction.

If your doctor agrees that oral ED medications are a safe option for you, trust eDrugstore for trusted name-brand PDE-5 inhibitors, like Viagra and Cialis, and their generic equivalents.

When you shop with eDrugstore, shipping is always free. Place your order now.

Disclaimer: This article provides general information about health and related topics but is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.