Anxiety and ED

[Flavio]

I've just bought and read an interesting article on anxiety and ED. Everyone seems to agree that anxiety plays a major part in sexual performance, but this subject still remains somewhat of a mystery. Psychogenic ED is still an unmet medical need.

Most of the conclusions of this study are therefore a bit vague:

a) People with sexual dysfunctions often show high levels of anxiety.

b) There is variabitity in the amount of anxiety experienced by people with sexual dysfunctions, as well as different patterns of anxiety:

«First, is coital anxiety the same for different people? Ansari (1975) found
that some people become dysfunctional after a traumatic anxiety-evoking
event, whereas the process is more insidious for others. It is possible that the
feelings of anxiety experienced by these two groups of people are very
different.»

c) «Some activities that distract attention away from erotic cues can reduce sexual arousal»

d) «It may be that a person with a sexual dysfunction, and who also experiences coital anxiety, might perceive sexual arousal as anxiety. These feelings could then produce additional anxiety and sexual avoidance.»

[ericguy]

Never heard of coital anxiety but I am sure that my erectile dysfunction is due to my anxiety and a dramatic sexual experience I went through the first time I had sex. I was so nervous and only 17 years old, my erections were great but I go so nervous around the girl that I could not get it hard for her. She tried to give me oral but it did not work.

She mentioned it to all her friends and I felt like the town idiot. Still having issues now that I am 32

[Flavio]

I suffer from 'coital anxiety' too but I can't find any rational explanation for that. My first time was great and I never had any traumatic experiences. Maybe it has to do with my fear of STI's, or maybe I'm just an anxious person. Unfortunately, I never did anything about it.

A year ago, I started taking Viagra and then Cialis + Vigamed: my performance has improved immensely but my anxiety is still there. This week, I've added SEREDYN to my regimen, let's see if it helps.

Anyway, I shouldn't be complaining: I am now 32 y.o. and my sex life is better than ever.

[Flavio]

More interesting conclusions from this study:

«It is to be hoped that the public's continuing interest in obtaining
sexual treatment will lead to larger samples being used in investigations and
improved data gathering procedures»

The problem is most men don't even consider sexual anxiety to be a health problem. Others are simply too scared/ashamed to seek medical help. If there was more interest in obtaining sexual treatment, more progress would be made in the research and treatment of psychogenic ED.

And another interesting conclusion: education may play a role in sexual performance anxiety. Here's what they said:

«One possible difference between the patients attending the university
hospital and those attending the private clinic is their education and/or
socioeconomic level. [...] In addition, Hoon et al. (1976) have reported significant positive correlations between women's educational levels and their
sexual arousability.»