Can Prostate Issues Lead to Insufficient Erection Hardness?

Chronic prostatitis is a common reproductive system disease among middle-aged and young men. Approximately 50% of men will experience prostatitis at some stage in their lives. Moreover, more and more people are questioning whether chronic prostatitis is related to erectile dysfunction.

Why does it seem that erection is also impaired after getting chronic prostatitis?

Erectile dysfunction is one of the common symptoms of chronic prostatitis in clinical practice. Recent literature reports show that the incidence of erectile dysfunction in patients with chronic prostatitis is about 15.0% to 40.5%. In such patients, concerns about erection often even surpass concerns about prostatitis itself.

First, we need to understand the possible causes of erectile dysfunction due to chronic prostatitis, which include:

1. Anatomical factors. During inflammation, a large number of inflammatory cells infiltrate, involving the prostatic duct and its surrounding interstitial tissues, causing congestion and edema. This affects the structure and function of blood vessels and nerves, leading to sexual dysfunction.

2. Physiological factors. Chronic prostatitis can cause cortical dysfunction in the brain or a disorder in the secretion of various hormones, leading to erection problems.

3. Psychological factors. Research shows that psychological factors play an important role in the development of chronic prostatitis syndrome. Some scholars even believe that the erectile problems of patients with chronic prostatitis are influenced by psychological factors, rather than caused by the organic pathological changes of the disease.

Patients with chronic prostatitis face significant mental stress and financial burdens during treatment, which can lead to psychological issues such as insomnia, anxiety, and depression. Some patients even mistakenly believe that chronic prostatitis is closely related to sexual life, generating fear and exacerbating erectile dysfunction.

Moreover, during the development of chronic prostatitis, reduced libido is common, which further increases the mental burden and anxiety of the patients. They become tense and depressed, leading to varying degrees of erectile dysfunction and shorter duration. Although these problems are related to penile sensitivity, psychological factors play a larger role.

Other Hazards of Chronic Prostatitis:

1. Impact on Work and Life

Due to the long-term inflammation irritating the prostate, patients may experience pain in the lower back, perineum, and testicles, along with frequent night urination, urgency, and pain during urination. These symptoms can significantly affect work and life over time. Additionally, if prostatitis is not treated in time, it can lead to complications like seminal vesiculitis, epididymitis, and orchitis, all of which severely impact the patient's work and life.

2. Psychological Impact

Long-term prostatitis can lead to endocrine disorders and mental abnormalities in men, such as neurasthenia, fatigue, insomnia, frequent dreams, slow thinking, and memory loss. These symptoms can affect the patient's psychological health. Moreover, excessive worry about the disease can create a heavy psychological burden, hindering recovery from the illness.

3. Impact on Partner

If a man's prostatitis is caused by specific bacterial infections, such as trichomoniasis, mycoplasma, chlamydia, yeast, or gonorrhea, these can be transmitted to the partner during sexual intercourse, severely affecting the couple's relationship. If a woman is infected in her reproductive tract, it can lead to gynecological inflammation and even infertility, with serious consequences.

4. Impact on Fertility

Long-term chronic inflammation of the prostate can affect the gland's secretory function and alter the composition of prostate fluid, affecting semen liquefaction time. Patients with chronic prostatitis may experience reduced sperm motility, poor sperm quality, and an increase in abnormal sperm, all of which can increase the likelihood of male infertility.

Reminder:

The prostate is especially important for men's physical and mental health. Age, family history, and dietary habits are all related to prostate diseases. Therefore, men, who play important roles in society and family, need to pay special attention to their physical health to stay away from prostate diseases. This begins with small things, like having a correct and rational understanding of the prostate and sexual activity.