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To answer the question, yes, dehydration can cause erectile dysfunction (ED) temporarily.
But how, you ask? Let’s look at the facts.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a sexual health disorder that affects a high percentage of the male population;approximately 1 out of 10 men may suffer from it at any given time.
This disease can be caused by a multitude of underlying factors, from a neurological condition, a vascular disease, or chronic health conditions.
In some cases, unrelated health problems like high blood pressure and obesity can exacerbate symptoms of erectile dysfunction as well.
If the various parts of the body fail to work together in harmony, a variety of health problems can arise. The same concept holds for dehydration.
In this article, we’ll be covering the following:
- What is Erectile Dysfunction?
- What Are the Signs of Dehydration?
- How Does Dehydration Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
- Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction
Let’s start.
What is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile Dysfunction (ED), more commonly known as impotence, is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection that’s suitable for sexual intercourse.
For an erection to be achieved, a few requirements need to be met. These include:
- Neurotransmitters from the brain must direct blood flow to the pelvis
- Arteries in the penis allowing blood to enter should expand
- Enough blood should flow into the erectile chamber or the corpora cavernosa
- The penile chamber where blood is stored should expand
- The drainage valve, or the tunica albuginea, must close and prevent blood from leaking back
If there’s a problem in any of the aforementioned steps for sustaining an erection, you may be more at risk of suffering from erectile dysfunction. Consider consulting a medical professional to treat your erectile dysfunction.
In the case of a dehydrated patient, there’s not enough fluid in the body to direct blood into the penis due to a reduced blood volume. This interferes with the ability of your blood vessels to constrict, causing lesser blood to flow to the penis.
What Are the Signs of Dehydration?
Worried that you’re dehydrated?
Here are some signs that you may be facing mild to moderate dehydration:
- Reduced frequency of urination
- Fatigue
- Dizziness
- Confusion or feelings of disorientation
- Dry mouth
- Lack of stamina
As a general rule, the recommended amount of water intake for men 19 years old and above falls within the range of 3,700 mL.
If you suffer from any of the signs above, consider upping your water intake and see if you can mitigate these effects after a few minutes. Should it persist, consult your doctor.
How Does Dehydration Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
For a healthy erection to occur, every organ and body system should function properly. When one essential part of the process stops working at optimal levels, there’s a high likelihood that the entire system may suffer the repercussions of this malfunction.
This is where hydration comes in. Hydration is key for many reasons. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, drinking enough water is important for a variety of reasons, including:
- Regulating body temperature
- Improved mood and cognition
- Better sleep quality
- Stronger immune system
- Better delivery of nutrients to red blood cells
In addition to that, drinking water also increases the volume of plasma and blood circulating your bloodstream. This increased volume means more blood for your blood vessels and arteries to pump out into your body, oxygenating the vital organs around your body to help you stay active and healthy.
But the oxygenation process isn’t the only important reason why hydration is so important. There’s a hormone called angiotensin that only gets created when there are insufficient fluid levels in your body. Angiotensin is responsible for restricting the passage of blood to the body, which includes the penis.
Angiotensin also increases the risk of high blood pressure, another symptom to watch out for in regards to erectile dysfunction. High blood pressure
With all that said, there’s a pretty clear picture that shows how dehydration and erectile dysfunction can be destructive to our sexual health.
The question then lies, is there anything we can do about it to prevent dehydration-induced erectile dysfunctionfrom getting worse?
The answer? Yes, there are.
Here are some options that you can consider to treat ED.
Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction
While a few large cups of water may help reduce symptoms of ED, erectile dysfunction can be a longer, multi-system process that needs proper management under a trained professional’s supervision.
1. Improve your Lifestyle and Habits
If you want to try improving your health at home, consider adding the following changes to your routine.
- Exercise regularly and lose weight
- Stop eating sugar and unhealthy fats
- Avoid drinking caffeine from coffee and energy drinks
- Avoid consuming alcohol
- Eat a diet rich in protein and nutrients
Some clinics offer customized medical care programs that help you achieve a better sex life.
2. Engage in Talk Therapy
Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a variety of factors, including physical impairments such as diabetes or heart disease. However, some forms of erectile dysfunction can also be caused by more neurological problems, likedepression, stress, and anxiety.
Sex therapy can help you identify and restructure the way you view sex more healthily and positively. It’s especiallyeffective for men with primary ED compared to secondary ED.
3. Consider ED Medical Treatment Plans
There are plenty of clinically approved methods of treating erectile dysfunction, both non-invasive and invasive. These include:
- Shockwave therapy
- Penile pumps
- Premature ejaculation treatment
- Penile implants
- Erectile dysfunction therapy
- Testosterone replacement therapy
A medical professional will typically prescribe one of the treatment plans above to help you recover from ED after an initial diagnosis and consultation of your unique medical history and situation.
Takeaways for the Connection Between Drinking Water and Impotence
Dehydration can indeed be a contributing factor of erectile dysfunction. It can impair several important processes in the body, such as a weakening of blood flow, impairment of arterial walls through HBP, and worsened cognition and mood.
While drinking a minimum of 3,700 mL of water every day is beneficial, there are a variety of treatments you may also consider to manage and cure your erectile dysfunction.
We’re trained to handle cases concerning male health, so you can rest easy knowing that your health is in good hands.
If you’re having issues with erectile dysfunction (ED) or premature ejaculation (PE), call the team at Prime Men’s Medical Center now to schedule an appointment to have a consultation with their experienced and specially trained medical staff for professional medical guidance for your sexual dysfunction. We are Jacksonville’s leading men’s health clinic providing ED treatments, PE therapy, Acoustic Wave therapy, hormone therapy, and much more.
