Vasculogenic erectile dysfunction is related to the lack of regulated influx of blood through blood cells and arteries.
The penis contains two chambers called the Corpora Cavernosa. Copora Cavernosa is stretched through to the length of Penis. A spongy tissue fills the chambers. The Corpora Cavernosa is surrounded by a membrane called tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, arteries and veins and spaces.
An erection happens only when arterial influx happens into cavernosal arteries sufficiently. Therefore proper blood influx and a well functioning cavernosal mechanism is essential for proper erections. This means, that erection begins through touch or activation through sensory organs, all of which transmit mental signals through the nerves. Impulses from the brain and local nerves cause the muscles of the corpora cavernosa to relax, allowing blood to flow in and fill the cavernosal spaces. The blood creates pressure in the corpora cavernosa leading to the expansion of the penis and thereby cause erection. The tunica albuginea helps trap the blood in the corpora cavernosa, thereby sustaining erection.
Any kind of disruption or destruction of this physical system containing nerves, vessels etc. can lead to sexual disturbances. The causes of vasculogenic dysfunction could be hardening of arteries due to fat, cholesterol or drugs that in effect create a wall of plaque around the arteries. This hardening of arteries is called arteriosclerosis.
The vasculogenic disruptions are caused due to filling up of carvenoloscar spaces leading to disrupted blood flow. The reasons of arteriosclerosis could be diabetes, hypertension, severe nicotine abuse, multiple sclerosis, vascular disease, atherosclerosis and neurologic disease etc. All the diseases which create vasculogenic disturbances are lifestyle related and can be minimised by keeping away from fat, alcohol, drugs and smoke. Another cause of vasculogenic dysfunction is perineal trauma, which means any damage to the genitalia during childbirth, excessive masturbation(extremely rare), or any other kind of external physical abuse that occurs spontaneously or intentionally by surgical incision, injuries of the pudendal vessels or iatrogenic (pelvic medical surgery related) injuries.
Medically, arterial disturbances are caused because of physical external substances or alterations. Thereby vasoactive dysfunctions are not partner, situation or mind dependent unlike the psychogenic disturbances.
One of the very rare causes of primary erectile dysfunction is Ectopic veins. Ectopic venal leakage or pathologic cavernosal drainage via a single ectopic penile vein can lead to disruption of the vasucolgenic system. Correction of Ectopic veins can be done by a simple surgery that resects the ectopic vein.
Venous erectile dysfunctions are mostly due to alterations of the tunica albuginea, the fibrous covering of the testis or the cavernous tissue.
Degenerative alterations of these muscle cells and resulting loss of elasticity can lead to the incompetence of the cavernosal mechanism. The possibilities of functional injuries of the muscle cells of the corpora cavernosa caused by sparse or decreased release of neurotransmitters, a blockage in the receptors could also be a reason for quantitative disturbances of receptor status.
A substantively reduced number of neurotransmitters, electrical stimuli and endothelium could be traced in patients with Diabetes Mellitus. Also, competitive receptor blockage could also be caused by medical surgeries that and can mar the relaxation capacity of the muscle cells. Similarly, competitive blockages are sometimes observed in psychogenic disturbances even.
Since vasculogenic problems are more lifestyle related , a healthy food intake , certain breathing exercises and yoga can regulate the blood flow and clear out the pathways for regulated influx. It is advisable to consult a doctor before making any alterations to one’s physical lifestyle.