{"id":5531,"date":"2021-09-16T14:18:13","date_gmt":"2021-09-16T14:18:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/givelegacy.com\/?p=5531"},"modified":"2023-06-14T13:07:10","modified_gmt":"2023-06-14T13:07:10","slug":"erectile-dysfunction-and-male-fertility","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/erectile-dysfunction-and-male-fertility\/","title":{"rendered":"Erectile dysfunction and male fertility"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erectile dysfunction affects around <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.urologyhealth.org\/urology-a-z\/e\/erectile-dysfunction-(ed)\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">30 million people in the US<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and is the most common sex-related problem that people with penises report to their doctor. For those who are trying to conceive a child, erectile dysfunction may cause fertility issues by making the process more difficult. Here is what you should know about how erectile dysfunction affects fertility, what causes it in the first place, and how to conceive when you or a partner has erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Takeaways:<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erectile dysfunction is extremely common and may affect people of all ages.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a number of physical and psychological contributors to erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erectile dysfunction can have indirect effects on fertility and may indicate underlying hormonal imbalance.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Treatment options for erectile dysfunction include medication, intraurethral therapy, penis pumps, and implants.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What is erectile dysfunction?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Erectile dysfunction, commonly referred to as ED, is a condition in which a person is unable to get or keep an erection firm enough to perform satisfactory sexual intercourse. It can be a short-term problem that occurs only occasionally, or a long-term problem in which a person is never able to get an erection.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What causes erectile dysfunction?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Because male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves numerous parts of the body \u2014 from the brain and hormones to the nerves and blood vessels \u2014 there can be a number of causes and contributors for erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Age and erectile dysfunction<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The chances of developing erectile dysfunction increase with age. This is likely because the conditions that cause ED \u2014 such as low testosterone and restricted blood flow \u2014 are more common with age. However, erectile dysfunction is <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">not<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> considered a normal part of aging.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">And age is far from the only determining factor. A&nbsp;<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/22727073\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2012 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">&nbsp;from The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) found that 30% of men under the age of 40 experienced erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Physical causes for erectile dysfunction<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Restricted blood flow.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Doctors estimate that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/blog\/sex-and-the-prostate-overcoming-erectile-dysfunction-when-you-have-prostate-disease-20090331100\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">70%<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> of the time erectile dysfunction can be traced to a physical condition that restricts blood flow, hampers nerve functioning, or both. These physical conditions may include clogged arteries, high blood pressure, or pelvic trauma.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Prescription medications.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> According to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.health.harvard.edu\/mens-health\/some-drugs-may-cause-your-erectile-dysfunction\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Harvard Special Health Report<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, 25% of all erectile dysfunction cases are the side effects of drugs like antidepressants, anti-ulcer drugs, tranquilizers, and diuretics. Medications for prostate surgery may also cause erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Obesity<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Obesity is also considered a significant risk factor for erectile dysfunction, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/24720114\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicating that 79% of men presenting erectile disorders have a BMI of 25 kg\/m2 or greater.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Tobacco use<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/academic.oup.com\/aje\/article\/161\/4\/346\/92680\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in the <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">American Journal of Epidemiology<\/span><\/i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that ED was more likely in men who smoked compared with those who never did. Smoking was largely to blame for erectile dysfunction in younger men.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Low testosterone.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes fail to produce sufficient amounts of testosterone, may contribute to erectile dysfunction. In some <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/j.1939-4640.2003.tb02746.x\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cases<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, testosterone replacement has improved sexual response.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Sleep disorders.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6704301\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2019 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found erectile dysfunction can be a consequence of several sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and circadian rhythm sleep disorders.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Pelvic surgery<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Prostate, bladder, and rectal surgeries can injure nerves or blood vessels, which may lead to erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Neurological disorders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Erectile dysfunction is common in people with Parkinson\u2019s disease, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or spinal cord injury because of damage to neural pathways.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Psychological causes for erectile dysfunction<\/span><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Depression and anxiety.<\/b> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that men with erectile dysfunction often have comorbid symptoms of depression and anxiety. According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/my.clevelandclinic.org\/health\/diseases\/9296-sexual-problems-and-depression-\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cleveland Clinic<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, in a person with depression, sex-related chemicals are out of balance. This results in low or missing sexual desire.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Stress<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.journals.elsevier.com\/hormones-and-behavior\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Researchers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have discovered that chronically elevated cortisol levels experienced during stressful events can produce impotence and loss of libido by inhibiting testosterone production in men.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Relationship issues<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Though erectile dysfunction often results in relationship problems, in some cases, the relationship problems happen first. Poor communication, a loss of emotional intimacy, and performance anxiety can all lead to a loss of libido and erectile dysfunction.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Can erectile dysfunction cause infertility?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29532805\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> suggest that erectile dysfunction and\/or premature ejaculation have a prevalence of one in six infertile men. Though erectile dysfunction does not necessarily affect <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/sperm-quality\/\">sperm parameters<\/a> or directly cause infertility, it can affect chances of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/mens-guide-to-trying-to-conceive\/\">conceiving<\/a> a child by inhibiting one\u2019s ability to maintain an erection in order to perform sexual intercourse and successfully fertilize an egg.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In some instances, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/22138899\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">studies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> show that erectile dysfunction and infertility may have the same root causes such as neurological defects like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson\u2019s disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is erectile dysfunction a sign of underlying infertility?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For some people, erectile dysfunction may indicate a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/the-hormones-that-drive-male-fertility\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">hormonal imbalance<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Imbalances in testosterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, and luteinizing hormone can all affect sexual function and fertility.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testosterone<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.yalemedicine.org\/news\/bedroom-signs-man-might-have-health-troubles\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urology Care Foundation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, approximately 4 out of 10 men over age 45 have low testosterone or low \u201cT\u201d (also known as hypogonadism). Low testosterone levels may result in erectile dysfunction. However, low T won\u2019t necessarily cause infertility. Many men with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.reproductivefacts.org\/news-and-publications\/patient-fact-sheets-and-booklets\/documents\/fact-sheets-and-info-booklets\/testosterone-use-and-male-infertility\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">low testosterone<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> can still produce healthy <a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/what-is-sperm\/\">sperm<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follicle-stimulating hormone<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) is responsible for the creation of sperm in the testes. Researchers in a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/emedicine.medscape.com\/article\/118810-clinical\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2020 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> found that men with low FSH levels were more likely to experience erectile dysfunction, decreased libido, and infertility. FSH deficiency can be caused by problems with the pituitary gland.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luteinizing hormone<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Luteinizing hormone is responsible for stimulating the production of testosterone; an imbalance in luteinizing hormone (LH) levels may also impact fertility and sexual function. This <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17085164\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2006 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> shows a connection between increased LH levels and erectile dysfunction. And this <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC3093801\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2011 study<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicates that high LH levels may lead to testicular failure, resulting in infertility.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What are the treatments for erectile dysfunction?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the same way that erectile dysfunction may be a sign of infertility, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/29532805\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">researchers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have noticed that <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">the issue may also indicate other physical and mental health issues. By investigating multiple facets of sexual, general, and psychological health, doctors have the best chance of treating sexual dysfunction by treating its root cause.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If underlying health conditions are ruled out, possible <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">treatments for erectile dysfunction include:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/male-enhancement-pills\/\"><b>Male enhancement pills<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This may include PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, or herbal supplements like ashwagandha, fenugreek, or maca root powder. Typically male enhancement pills work by increasing blood flow to the penis.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Alprostadil self-injection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This option involves using a fine needle to inject alprostadil, a medication that increases blood flow, into the base or side of the penis to prompt an erection that lasts no more than an hour.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Intraurethral therapy<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. A small alprostadil suppository is placed within the penile urethra with this method, causing an erection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Penis pumps.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> A penis pump creates a vacuum effect that pulls blood into the penis to create an erection.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Surgical penile implants.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Inflatable or bendable rods can be placed surgically at the sides of the penis.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Urologists or primary care physicians are typically the providers who treat erectile dysfunction. Mental health professionals can also be helpful when erectile dysfunction is the result of \u2014 or results in \u2014 psychological issues.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Do these treatments affect fertility?<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Though<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> PDE5 inhibitors like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra are often prescribed to treat erectile dysfunction, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/17335822\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">research<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> indicates that they can negatively impact the acrosome reaction, the process by which sperm bonds with the egg during fertilization. These drugs can also be harmful for those with vascular disease.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Additionally, many <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/resources\/male-enhancement-pills\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">herbal male enhancement pills<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> have been shown to contain ingredients that can affect fertility, such as testosterone-boosters.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other treatments listed above have not been shown to negatively impact fertility.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">What if I have erectile dysfunction and want to have a baby?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">If erectile dysfunction is hindering your ability to conceive a child, there are options for making the process easier. Intrauterine insemination, or IUI, is a method that involves placing sperm directly into your partner\u2019s uterus around the time their ovary releases one or more eggs to be fertilized. This procedure allows you to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/sperm-freezing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">freeze sperm<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in advance to use at the time of the insemination, in the case that it\u2019s difficult to produce a sample on the day of the procedure.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another option is surgical sperm retrieval, which may include testicular sperm extraction (TESE) or testicular sperm aspiration (TESA). Both options involve surgically retrieving sperm from the testicles. Sperm can then be <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/guide-to-sperm-freezing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">cryopreserved<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> or used immediately with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), an IVF method in which a single sperm is injected directly into an egg.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/2807745\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Electroejaculation<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is an option to induce ejaculation in people with erectile dysfunction (especially as a result of spiral cord injury or nerve damage). EEJ is a process in which a probe is inserted rectally and pressed against the prostate, where it delivers an increasing frequency to stimulate ejaculation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Finally, adopting a healthier lifestyle can have a positive effect on both erectile dysfunction and fertility. This includes eating well, limiting sugar and alcohol intake, exercising regularly, and addressing underlying mental health issues. Explore our comprehensive <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/sperm-improvement-guide\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">guide to sperm improvement<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> for more healthy lifestyle tips.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn what male birth control options are available now, and new options you may have in the future.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14,"featured_media":5582,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"none","_seopress_titles_title":"%%title%%: ED causes and treatments %%sep%% %%sitename%%","_seopress_titles_desc":"Explore the relationship between erectile dysfunction and male fertility and how to treat. Learn more from the fertility experts at Legacy.","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[61,18,125,210,121,123,70,35],"tags":[128,119,122],"class_list":["post-5531","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-infertility","category-improving-sperm-health","category-medical-infertility","category-medical","category-sex","category-sexual-health","category-trying-to-conceive","category-understanding-male-health","tag-erectile-dysfunction","tag-sex","tag-sexual-health"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/14"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=5531"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17584,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5531\/revisions\/17584"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/5582"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=5531"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=5531"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.givelegacy.com\/vnext\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=5531"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}