Erectile dysfunction and relationships

At home

If you are struggling with erectile dysfunction, you should know that your partner is also affected by the problem. After all, you share your love life with her! It’s very common for your partner to blame herself when you cannot get an erection. She will start to experience feelings of anxiety and inadequacy. She may, for example, worry that the way she makes love is somehow not satisfying for you, or that you don’t find her attractive any more.

If you have started to avoid intimacy because of impotence or loss of libido, your partner may have concerns that you are having an affair, or that you’ve had enough of her. Don’t let her feel that way! While it is valid for her to experience these anxieties, you should discuss the issue with her. Make sure you explain to her that your erection problems are not caused by a lack of interest or a desire to end the relationship.

In almost all cases of erectile dysfunction, there is a physical ailment causing it. If you often have difficulties achieving an erection, you should consult your doctor. An erection problem can be a symptom of illnesses like diabetes or heart disease.

The subject of impotence is an embarrassing one for men. You yourself are sure to be experiencing some emotional distress because of your inability to fulfill your partner’s needs. You may even avoid intimacy altogether. Your relationship will be placed under stress by your condition, but don’t allow it to suffer unduly. What is most important is that you and your partner are both brave and honest enough to open up to one another and discuss the problem. Talking your way through the issue will strengthen your relationship.

When faced with any kind of sexual problem, many couples find it awkward and embarrassing to discuss it. But the longer you leave it, the more difficult it will become. Things will only get easier when you have acknowledged that the problem exists and have made the decision together that you should seek help. In fact, getting professional advice about erectile dysfunction, as a couple, may help to bring you closer together.

If, during the process, your partner is experiencing any feelings of inadequacy in the relationship, help her as much as you can to improve her own sense of self. Encourage her to eat healthy foods, take regular exercise and make time to relax. If you’re both feeling better about yourselves, then you will notice an improvement in your relationship and in your sex life.

At work

A sexual problem can cause you to lose your confidence and self-esteem, and this affects every aspect of your life. Erectile dysfunction doesn’t only have an impact on your relationship with your partner. It can also affect how you’re interacting with your friends and your colleagues.

If your partner is not doing all she can to help you deal with erectile dysfunction, you may well feel cut off, isolated and alone. You could become antisocial and withdrawn.

Conversely, work-related issues can help to cause erectile dysfunction. Stress, for instance, can be a contributing psychological factor in your inability to achieve and maintain an erection.

It is also likely that if you are not doing as well in your career as you’d like – if you are earning less than you think you should, or feel you are not moving up the corporate ladder or earning the respect of your co-workers – you may find that it has an adverse effect on your sex life. In other words, not performing at work could mean not performing in the bedroom.

Merely finding a treatment for your erectile dysfunction is not where the problem ends. What is required is mutual and constant support and affirmation as you overcome your sexual problem and recover the intimacy in your relationship.