Reduced Libido
Reduced libido, or decreased sexual desire, can result from organic or psychological causes. It often accompanies hormonal imbalances, such as low levels of testosterone. Reduced libido can also be associated with psychological problems, relationship difficulties, medical illnesses and the use of certain drugs.
Ejaculation Problems
Ejaculatory difficulties can consist of premature, retarded (slow) or absent or retrograde (backward) ejaculation. Psychological or medical factors can cause ejaculation problems, as can drugs such as over-the-counter decongestants. Premature ejaculation is more common in young men than in older men and can diminish with age and experience. Retarded or absent ejaculations may be due to psychological, neurological or medicals causes, or some combination of these factors.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED) or Impotence
Erectile dysfunction is the most common problem for men, affecting 80 to 85 percent of patients seeking medical help for sexual dysfunction. ED is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection of sufficient duration and firmness to complete satisfactory intercourse through vaginal penetration. ED can be caused by either psychological or organic factors, with the condition often resulting from a combination of the two. Organic causes may be vascular, hormonal, medical or drug-related.
For more extensive information regarding these conditions, visit Lahey's Health Encyclopedia, or review the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists' (AACE's) Clinical Guidelines, the source of the preceding information.
