STI symptoms: Erectile dysfunction could be a warning sign of a common infection - Express

ED is caused by a mix of psychological and physical factors. Some of the most common contributing factors include hardening of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis) – caused by a buildup of "bad" cholesterol – and diabetes. But ED may also be a sign that STIs such as chlamydia and gonorrhoea have been damaging your body.

STIs can spark infections in the prostate gland, an organ where fluid is produced that mixes with sperm to create semen, and other parts of the reproductive system.

These infections can cause improper blood flow to the genitals, according to Harvard University.

The University explained: "In the past, it was thought that most cases of erectile dysfunction were psychological in origin, the result of such demons as performance anxiety or more generalised stress.

"While these factors can cause erectile dysfunction, doctors now think that 70 percent of the time the problem can be traced to a physical condition that restricts blood flow, hampers nerve functioning, or both."

They are known as male accessory gland infections (MAGIs) that inflame much of the reproductive tract, including the prostate and testes.

Gonorrhoea, for example, can trigger an infection called epididymitis, which is an infection in damage to a pathway called the epididymis – a coiled tube at the back of the testicle. This has been connected to ED.

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