The Surprising Link Between Your Heart and Erectile Dysfunction

When your circulatory system isn’t healthy, sexual responses can quickly suffer. Yes, there’s a real, documented link between erectile dysfunction (ED) and the heart. Here’s what you should know.

At Urology Specialists of Cypress, our patients rely on experienced board-certified urologist Dr. James Stocks for compassionate, respectful care rooted in a deep understanding of men’s health.

Erectile dysfunction is a common reason men visit our Cypress, Texas, practice, and it’s also a common cause of confusion. Many men are surprised when they learn that their heart and entire circulatory system play a significant role in ED.

In honor of American Heart Month, we want to take the time this February to explain the connection.

How the heart and blood vessels control sexual function

The heart and blood vessels work together to control blood flow throughout the body. An erection is actually a circulatory event. Sexual stimulation starts in the brain, with the brain messaging the blood vessels in the penis to relax.

This relaxation widens the blood vessels, allowing blood to rush in and fill the corpora cavernosa (the spongy tissue inside the penis). This is what produces an erection. During an erection, the blood is temporarily “trapped” there. After ejaculation, the blood vessels narrow again and blood drains.

The circulatory system-ED connection

Certain factors can disrupt the blood flow into the penis or prevent it from staying there long enough for satisfying sex. In many cases, it starts with the arteries.

Many men with ED have atherosclerosis, in which plaque lines the artery walls. Atherosclerosis is generally known as a type of heart disease, but it can affect blood vessels anywhere in the body.

Plaque, which includes a variety of materials such as dietary fats, cholesterol, and cellular waste products, can build up until it narrows and stiffens the blood vessels.

This, in turn, can prevent the blood vessels in the penis from getting the blood they need to achieve an erection. In that situation, no matter how hard the heart works to pump blood, the blood vessels can’t work properly.

The blood vessels in the penis are among the smallest in the body, and they’re often one of the first places atherosclerosis takes hold. Many, or even most, men with ED have atherosclerosis. The correlation is so strong that ED is officially known as a risk-enhancing factor for heart disease.

On average, ED appears around three years before a cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke. This means that by treating ED now, you can reclaim your sexual health and also help protect your heart and larger cardiovascular health for the long term.

At Urology Specialists of Cypress, we provide comprehensive solutions for ED. Whether your ED is strictly related to atherosclerosis or has other contributing factors like low testosterone, we’re here for empathetic, personalized support.

Let’s make February the month you reclaim control of your sexual and heart health. Call our office at 281‑304‑2521 to book your consultation.