Signs that indicate erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) symptoms aren’t hard to miss. According to Mayo Clinic, the most common culprits include trouble getting and/or keeping a stretched genital. If you’re regularly (or even just occasionally) experiencing them, don’t hesitate to bring it up with your doctor.

According to healthline, here are three unexpected signs that can point to ED down the line and what you should do if you notice them.

You haven’t woken up with morning wood in a while

Nighttime and early morning stretched genital have nothing to do with feeling aroused. They happen because your brain releases less noradrenaline, a hormone that keeps stretching of genitals from happening nonstop during sleep.

Having frequent morning wood is a good thing, since it indicates the blood vessels that allow blood to flow to your genitals are healthy.

If you start noticing that you’re waking up with a stretched genital less often than usual, that could mean that those blood vessels aren’t working as well as they should, making it harder for blood to flow into your genital to become stretched. That means the same issue impeding your morning wood might eventually rear up in the bedroom, when you’re actually trying to get stretched.

Now, there’s no magic number that means you could be in trouble. It’s any amount that’s different than your normal that raises the red flag.

You don’t think about intercouse as much as you used to

If the stuff that usually gets you going just isn’t working anymore, there’s a good chance that your testosterone levels are lower than normal.

Testosterone is the main hormone responsible for your love making drive, explains New York-based urologist and intercourse expert David Shusterman, M.D. If it plummets, your desire to get going in the say may, too.

And if you’re not really in the mood, getting stretched will be next to impossible.

Along with a lack of love making thoughts, you may also notice some other signs of low testosterone, like fatigue or mood changes, difficulty building muscle, or even developing a gut. Testosterone therapy isn’t always the answer; sometimes your lifestyle can affect your testosterone level.

Your gums are swollen, tender, or bleed easily

Gums that are swollen, painful, or bleed when you brush or floss are likely signs of gum disease. That doesn’t cause ED directly, but it can set off a chain of events that could create problems for your genital, Dr. Shusterman explains.

That’s because gum disease can lead to inflammation throughout your body, which can damage your blood vessels. And if your blood vessels aren’t functioning properly, it’ll be tougher for blood to flow into your genital.