Can Work-Related Stress Cause Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men?

Work can be a significant source of stress, particularly when long hours, pressure to perform and challenging workplace relationships become part of everyday life. But could that stress also affect your sex life?

New research published in the  International Journal of Clinical Practice suggests there may be a link between work-related psychological stress and erectile dysfunction (ED) in younger men.

How can stress affect erections?

Erections rely on a combination of healthy blood flow, hormones, the nervous system and psychological wellbeing. When we're under prolonged stress, the body releases cortisol, a hormone that helps us respond to stressful situations. If you're interested in measuring your cortisol level, see our Cortisol Stress Hormone Blood Test Kit.

Persistently elevated cortisol may affect other hormones, including testosterone, which plays an important role in sexual function.

Researchers behind a recent study published in the International Journal of Clinical Practice investigated whether workplace stress could be associated with changes in erectile function and hormone levels.

What did the study find?

The researchers studied 826 full-time working men aged between 22 and 40. They looked at several aspects of workplace stress, including:

• Working hours

• How much control employees had over decisions

• Support from supervisors

• Relationships with colleagues

• Pressure around promotion

The researchers also assessed erectile function and measured levels of hormones including cortisol and testosterone.

They found an association between higher levels of workplace stress and poorer erectile function. Among men in the highest-stress group, 54.37% were reported to have erectile dysfunction, with the researchers reporting substantially higher odds of ED compared with the lowest-stress group.

The study also suggested that hormonal changes may occur before changes in erectile function. Cortisol levels increased before testosterone levels fell, while changes in testosterone appeared to precede changes in erectile function.

Interestingly, the researchers found that different aspects of workplace stress appeared to have different effects. Longer working hours were associated with impaired erectile function through higher cortisol levels, while greater supervisor support appeared to have a protective association with testosterone levels.

Does stress definitely cause erectile dysfunction?

Not necessarily.

The findings suggest a relationship between workplace psychological stress, hormonal changes and erectile function, but this type of study cannot by itself prove that workplace stress directly causes ED in every man.

Erectile dysfunction can have many possible causes, including stress and anxiety, relationship difficulties, certain medications, alcohol, smoking, sleep problems, diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hormonal conditions.

For some men, psychological stress may be an important contributing factor. For others, ED can be an early sign of an underlying physical health problem.

When should you speak to a doctor?

Occasional difficulty getting or maintaining an erection is common and isn't necessarily a cause for concern. However, if problems are happening regularly, it's worth discussing them with a healthcare professional.

ED is treatable, and identifying the underlying cause can help determine the most appropriate treatment. If stress appears to be contributing, addressing workload, sleep, anxiety and other sources of psychological pressure may form part of the solution.

It's also important not to assume that erectile difficulties are simply "in your head". Physical and psychological factors often overlap, and a medical assessment can help identify what may be contributing to the problem.

The bottom line

The new research adds to evidence suggesting that long-term workplace stress may be associated with erectile dysfunction in younger men, potentially through changes in stress hormones such as cortisol and testosterone.

If you're experiencing persistent erectile difficulties, don't feel you have to put up with them or simply blame stress. ED is common, treatable and worth discussing with a healthcare professional.