Causes of Sudden Erectile Dysfunction

March 18, 2021

4 mins

Sexual intimacy can play an important role in your relationship and in your life. So when your body is not cooperating with the way you’re feeling in the heat of the moment, it can be quite disconcerting. While not being able to get or maintain an erection may be concerning initially, it is nothing to be worried about as it happens to more people than you would think. 

Impotence – more commonly known as erectile dysfunction – is a medically defined condition that results in the difficulty getting and maintaining an erection. 

There are many different causes and types of impotence and understanding these different times and causes can allow you to be more educated about the condition and what it entails. 

Revitalize your intimacy discreetly.

Explore our ED treatment options.

Get Started

Causes of Sudden Impotence

Sudden impotence refers to difficulty attaining or maintaining an erection out of the blue. While most men who experience ED have underlying heart conditions or are of a certain age, it’s not uncommon for a man to experience sexual dysfunction and not have a clear idea of what may be causing it.

Commonly referred to as sudden onset ED or acute ED, this type of erectile dysfunction is most commonly caused by stress or other physiological states of mind. When your mind isn’t entirely present in the moment, your body may not function as desired.

Injury

While it can be difficult to imagine an injury to your manhood, it happens – and it can cause sudden impotence. The penis consists of vascular tissue, nerves, and other tissues. If damage is caused to any of these tissues or nerves, it can affect the ability of the penis to divert blood to the penis or signal an erection.

While most genital injuries don’t require a visit to the doctor, genital injuries like testicular torsion, open wounds, and severe blunt force trauma to the region should warrant a trip to the doctors office. 

Less common (and obvious) injuries that can lead to impotence are sustained traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord injuries. In the event that these injuries are suspected, it is important to seek immediate medical attention. 

The brain and spinal cord are the anatomical structures that allow you to move and process the world around you. Leaving these injuries untreated could lead to irreversible damage that could detrimentally impact life. Seeking medical attention as soon as possible is key for treating – and potentially reversing – said injuries.

While it's most important to treat these injuries for reasons other than ED, they do contribute to impotence. These injuries can cause ED because the brain signaling pathway is an important part of the erection process and if these signals are interrupted, it could cause dysfunction of the system.

ED caused by injury can be treatable and it is important to have a conversation with your healthcare provider to determine what treatment option can work best for you. 

Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is a form of cancer that only affects men. The cancer forms in the prostate and is the second leading cause of cancer death amongst men according to the American Cancer Society. The main issue with prostate cancer is that the symptoms of a prostate tumor are quite subtle, making this condition difficult to detect. One of these subtle effects is that prostate cancer can cause sudden bouts of erectile dysfunction. 

While the cancer itself can cause ED, the treatment for prostate cancer can also cause sudden onset ED. When treating prostate cancer, chemotherapeutics, radiation, and surgical excision can be used to treat the tumor. While these treatments are relatively targeted at ridding the body of the cancerous cells, ultimately these treatments can lead to erectile dysfunction.

If you experience sudden bouts of impotence with no clear cause, it may be a good idea to see your doctor to rule out the possibility of cancer. It’s always better to be safe than sorry, and catching prostate cancer early can greatly improve possible outcomes and survival rates. 

Psychological

The leading causes of sudden ED have to do with psychological factors. Whether this may be related to stress, anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition, the body’s inability to get or maintain an erection has a lot to do with how the brain is functioning. 

For example, chronic stress can pose a more impactful impact on your ability to get or maintain an erection. With chronic stress you have elevated levels of cortisol. It has been shown that cortisol levels and testosterone levels are inversely related in that as cortisol increases, testosterone decreases. Because chronic stress causes a decrease in testosterone it can impact a man's libido and ability to gain an erection. 

When dealing with sudden onset impotence, it’s important to get to the root of the issue. If it has something to do with your mental state, be sure to seek appropriate medical attention. 

Is Sudden Erectile Dysfunction Temporary?

Yes! In most cases, sudden erectile dysfunction is temporary. The duration of the condition can vary, but it typically lasts for a short period.

As previously mentioned, factors such as stress, fatigue, anxiety, relationship issues, medication side effects, lifestyle habits, and underlying health conditions can contribute to sudden ED. Addressing these factors and making necessary lifestyle changes often helps to resolve the issue and restore normal erectile function.

How Long Does Sudden ED Last?

While the duration of sudden erectile dysfunction may vary, in most cases sudden ED lasts for a short period. It typically ranges from a few days to a few weeks. However, if the problem persists or recurs frequently, it is advisable to seek medical attention. 

Treatment Options for Sudden ED

While there are many ways in which ED can occur, there are very effective and proven treatment options that can help you get your sex life back. These treatment options include a class of drugs known as PDE5 inhibitors. 

Name brands like Viagra®, Cialis®, and Levitra are some of the most commonly utilized medications for the treatment of ED. 

While these PDE5 are effective in nearly 70% of cases, these medications may not be right for you and your specific ED. Consulting a doctor is the best way to determine if ED medication is right for you. 

The Rex MD team is more than happy to assist with your ED journey – with no appointment necessary. 

How Rex MD Can Help

Understanding the different causes of ED can allow you to have a furthered understanding of the human body and why your body is responding the way it is. 

Looking at the different possible causes of impotence can allow you see what aligns with your signs and symptoms and can allow you to do something about it like modifying your lifestyle to one that promotes a healthy body and mind. Being an informed patient and having discussions with your doctor can prove to be a far more effective patient physician relationship. 

Learning about ED is an important component to taking charge of your care and claiming back your sex life.