Having erectile dysfunction is not the same as having infertility, because while erectile dysfunction is the inability, or difficulty, to have or maintain an erection, infertility is the impossibility for man to produce sperm that can generate a pregnancy. Thus, although the man may have difficulty maintaining an erection, this does not mean that he is infertile, since, most likely, he continues to have normal and regularized sperm production.
However, as is known, for a pregnancy to occur, it is necessary to transfer the sperm into the woman's vaginal canal, which can be hampered by erectile dysfunction. It is for this reason that many couples in which the man has erectile dysfunction, end up suffering from the difficulty to get pregnant, which is not related to infertility.
In the presence of erectile dysfunction, there are some techniques that can help to achieve a pregnancy, since sperm can be implanted in the woman's vaginal canal through artificial insemination. This technique allows pregnancy to happen, but it does not cure erectile dysfunction, it can be used during treatment, if the couple is trying to get pregnant. Learn about the main fertilization techniques and when they are used.
How to know if it is erectile dysfunction
Some of the symptoms that may indicate that a man has erectile dysfunction include:
- Difficulty having or maintaining an erection;
- Greater need for concentration and time to achieve an erection;
- Less rigid than normal erection.
Erectile dysfunction is often caused by factors that hinder blood circulation to the penis, such as being overweight, smoking or using some medications such as antihypertensives or antidepressants, for example. But it can also happen due to psychological problems like depression, trauma or fear, which eventually lead to a decrease in libido.
Watch the following video and see the tips of a physiotherapist and sexologist, who explains erectile dysfunction and teaches how to exercise to prevent and improve the problem:
How to know if it is infertility
In the case of infertility, the symptoms are not physical and therefore in most cases the man is able to maintain normal and constant sexual intercourse and the only way to find out is through exams such as the spermogram, for example.
As with sexual impotence, infertility can also be caused by several factors, which may include:
- Low testosterone production;
- High production of the hormone prolactin;
- Thyroid disorders;
- Infections in the reproductive system, especially infections that can affect the testicles, such as mumps;
- Varicocele, which is the increase in blood vessels in the testicles;
- Use of anabolic steroids or drugs that may cause infertility;
- Carrying out invasive therapies such as radiotherapy;
- Pituitary tumors;
- Genetic problems that affect the production of sperm;
- Problems that affect ejaculation, such as no ejaculation or retrograde ejaculation.
See more about the main causes of male infertility and what can be done to treat the problem.
What to do to get pregnant
To get pregnant, there are several tips that can help such as:
- Having sex during the fertile period, which can be calculated using our fertile period calculator.
- Eat more foods rich in vitamin E and zinc, such as wheat germ, nuts and nuts, as they act on sex hormones improving male and female fertility;
- Invest in a healthy and varied diet and physical exercise;
- Avoid habits that impair fertility, such as drinking alcohol, smoking or taking drugs.
However, if you have been having sex for more than 1 year without contraceptive methods, it is very important to seek medical help to identify the cause of the problem and start the most appropriate treatment.
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Bibliography
- LOTTI, Francesco; MAGGI, Mario. Sexual dysfunction and male infertility. Nature Reviews Urology. Vol.15, n.5. 287-307, 2018
- NIH. Erectile Dysfunction (ED). Available in: . Accessed on 17 Mar 2020
- NIH. How is infertility diagnosed?. Available in: . Accessed on 17 Mar 2020
- CDC. Infertility FAQs. Available in: . Accessed on 17 Mar 2020
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