Can Caffeine Cause ED?
In this day and age, we’re all caffeine-based lifeforms. Whether it’s getting pumped for a workout sesh in the gym or just a shot of black coffee before work, chances are that you’ve become reliant on this addictive substance in one way or the other. With how common erectile dysfunction (ED) is among males, it’s only natural to wonder if caffeine can cause ED.
Common Causes of ED
Before narrowing it down to caffeine as the culprit for causing ED, it’s vital to know the usual factors that do affect erections. Depending on a range of physiological factors, you could consume copious amounts of caffeine and still not have ED, so don’t go jumping the shark just yet!
Causes for ED can be broken down into two groups – emotional and physical. In some cases, it could even be both. As far as physical factors go, some of the usual ones are:
- Heart disease
- Hypertension
- Diabetes
- Low T-levels
Since caffeine boosts heart rate, and drinking it in large amounts can lead to complications in the long run, it’s easy to assume that caffeine can cause ED, even if indirectly. The truth is that the chances of this happening are fairly minuscule, and the research is both ongoing and inconclusive on the topic.
Other than physical causes, it’s commonly believed that caffeine does impact one’s mental state, which in turn can affect erections. Emotional causes for ED are diverse and can be tough to diagnose without getting professional help. These include conditions like depression, stress, anxiety, and even sleep disorders.
How Caffeine Impacts Us
Considering both the short and long-term effects that the substance can have on the human body, it’s not a stretch to see why people believe caffeine can cause ED. Short-term effects of caffeine kick in from around 5 to 30 minutes after consumption. The immediate impact is a surge of energy and wakefulness, accompanied by an increase in heart rate and breathing.
Depending on your daily routine, these effects can last for over 8 hours! If you’re a regular consumer of caffeine, you’ll find that the body tends to build resistance and requires higher doses for the same effect.
In the long term, caffeine does affect erections in the sense that it plays an indirect role in some of the complications, including conditions such as anxiety, mentioned above. Consistently ingesting large amounts of caffeine can cause palpitations, upset nerves, tremors, and even difficulty falling asleep.
Can Caffeine Cause ED? – The Verdict
Surprisingly enough, research shows that the belief that caffeine can cause ED is actually a myth. In the short term, you might benefit from caffeine consumption if you’re experiencing troubles with erections. According to one study, research shows that drinking one to three cups of coffee every day can lower the chances of developing erectile dysfunction.
It turns out that if you’re worried about caffeine and ED, what you should be looking at are the indirect effects of caffeine. Going above a moderate consumption of caffeine can cause emotional problems, like anxiety and sensitivity, which do have the potential to affect erections. This also applies for other symptoms of high-caffeine consumption, such as palpitations and irregular heartbeats.
Even though the indirect effects can cause ED, caffeine, if consumed in moderate amounts, can have certain benefits. It’s worth pointing out here that the ‘moderate amount’ of caffeine for each person varies depending on a range of physiological factors, including weight, height, and more. If you’re unsure about how much caffeine you can/should be consuming, it’s worth getting an inexpensive screening.
How Coffee Can Help
Caffeine can benefit men by making it easier for them to maintain an erection. This is because of the tendency of caffeine to relax arteries and allow smoother blood flow. This does vary depending on the person and the amount of caffeine required isn’t a static figure.
Caffeine does affect erections, however, there are also secondary benefits that men should consider. It’s becoming an increasingly well-known fact that lower levels of testosterone can cause ED, and caffeine can help men with low T-levels. Not only does caffeine boost your energy, but it can also cause the body to boost testosterone levels. Some studies claim that caffeine can benefit fertility for men; however, the jury is still out on this, and it might be too early to draw any conclusions.
Beating ED
While caffeine can marginally benefit men who are struggling against ED, it’s not exactly a cure in the long term, and the benefits can be unreliable at best.
For men who want a consistent way to manage ED, it might be worth investing in a penis sleeve from RX Sleeve.