Erectile Dysfunction (ED) and male infertility are two different conditions. Many people get confused with the topics of impotence and infertility, which is understandable, as there can be similar symptoms or seem connected in some ways. Often, many guys who are diagnosed with ED think that not being able to get or maintain an erection means that they are not able to get their partner pregnant. This is patently false, as having ED and infertility are in fact not the same.
Erectile Dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is when a man cannot get or maintain an erection to have sexual intercourse. While this may obviously hinder the reproductive process, it is not an indictment on the viability of a man’s sperm. Infertility is when a couple cannot conceive or get pregnant after having sex for a year or longer. Infertility can be either a female or male issue. Infertility can be caused by a variety of things, the most common being low sperm count.
Having ED does not automatically mean you are infertile, but it sure can make getting pregnant extremely difficult. Both conditions have been known to cause stress in a relationship, and it’s important to know that many couples seek and receive treatment for sexual and reproductive problems. Studies have shown that there is sexual dysfunction present in 20-25 percent of couples who are infertile. With respect to the male aspects of infertility, you can produce perfectly good sperm, but not be able to produce an erection for a host of different reasons.
Sexual arousal isn’t just physical, it can also have emotional or psychological causes. Stress is a huge factor in sexual health, known to have direct effects on your libido. There is a relationship between sexual dysfunction and infertility, in the aspect that the stress from the two conditions can affect the outcome. Normal sexual and reproductive function depends largely on neurological function. In other words, neurological defects can cause infertility, erectile dysfunction, and semen abnormalities. There are treatments available to help with sexual function and infertility.
To learn more about male infertility and erectile dysfunction, call Ironwood Urology at (480) 961-2323 to request an appointment with Dr. Desi Avila, or use our online request an appointment form. Dr. Avila has years of experience helping couples who are experiencing either infertility or impotence, and outcomes are often quite good. The most important step towards good sexual and reproductive health is seeing a urologist and diagnosing the issue.
