Symptoms of erectile dysfunction are characteristic but not always specific manifestations, through which a man can suspect an erection disorder and consult a specialist (urologist) for further examinations and an accurate diagnosis.
Early Signs of Disorder
What are these symptoms of erectile dysfunction? They include the following:
- Periodic or regular disappearance of erection during sexual intercourse;
- Inability to engage in repeat sexual activity, if it was previously possible;
- Increased intervals between sexual activities without an obvious reason;
- Inability to achieve orgasm or perform ejaculation;
- Reduced pleasure from orgasm;
- Premature ejaculation;
- Reduction in the amount of seminal fluid;
- Absence of erection as such or a weak reaction even in the presence of subjective arousal;
- Inability to perform (start or finish) sexual activity;
- Absence or reduction in morning and nighttime erections;
- Decreased interest in sexual activity compared to the usual level of libido;
- Urination disorders – increased frequency of toilet visits, sensation of incomplete bladder emptying, appearance of painful sensations, urine leakage, or intermittent urination.
These manifestations can also be divided into degrees of severity:
- Mild – sexual activity is possible and performed, however, there is a slight decrease in erection, sometimes an inability to finish the activity;
- Moderate – sexual activity is possible with difficulties, sometimes completely unachievable due to insufficient erection;
- Severe – no erection, sexual activity is impossible.
Thus, early signs of erectile dysfunction can include decreased satisfaction from sexual activity, inability to perform repeat sexual activity (if it was previously possible), sometimes – worsening of morning erections or difficulties in maintaining an erection until the end of sexual activity. All manifestations are individual for each man and depend on the usual physiological capabilities of his body.
Differences in Symptoms Depending on the Cause
As there are three variants of the disorder depending on the cause of development: organic, psychogenic, and mixed – they may slightly differ in their symptoms. Thus, signs of psychogenic erectile dysfunction are distinguished:
- Sudden, unexpected onset, seemingly against a backdrop of absolute health, sometimes in patients without classic risk factors (smoking, diabetes, etc.);
- Periodic course – the disorder can sometimes disappear, creating an illusion of improved condition, and the strength of manifestations can change to a greater or lesser extent without a pronounced tendency to progress;
- Situational nature – symptoms are usually associated with a specific embarrassing or uncomfortable circumstance for the man (from a certain partner to sex using a condom);
- Connection with external psychological stress (at work, in the family, in interpersonal relationships) – appears or intensifies after experiencing shock or anxiety;
- Preservation of morning and/or nighttime erections – a physiological reaction for a healthy man, which indicates the preservation of organic mechanisms.
Symptoms of organic erectile dysfunction will differ:
- Characterized by gradual onset, it does not happen that one day a man wakes up with already pronounced dysfunction;
- Progression – as the onset occurs gradually, the symptoms will progress, inevitably leading to further deterioration;
- Constancy – signs of disorder are not related to a specific circumstance and persist even with a change in environment, partner, contraception method, etc.;
- Association with illness or medication intake – symptoms arise after the development of a specific pathology or the prescription and intake of medications;
- Absence of morning and/or nighttime erections – a characteristic sign indicating the formation of organic dysfunction.
The combined form may incorporate the listed manifestations, complicating the differential diagnosis between types.