Impotence
Erection problems are common. In fact, experts have estimated that erectile dysfunction affects 33% of all British Men.
Erectile dysfunction is treatable in all age groups.
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What is impotence?
Impotence or erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve or sustain an erection that's hard enough or lasts long enough to complete sexual intercourse or another chosen sexual activity.
What causes it?
The majority of men with ED exhibit a combination of psychological and physical causes.
Every man will experience an occasional failure to maintain an erection. This can generally be put down to stress, exhaustion, anxiety or substance abuse. Though there is nothing to worry about, an occasional failure can led to further anxiety about achieving an erection the next time. In this case, the problem is purely psychological.
However, most cases of erectile dysfunction are a result of certain health conditions, medicines, or habits that interfere with blood flow around the body and penis.
Physical causes
Erectile function is a very good indicator of general health. ED is generally a red flag that something is not right with the body's system and it needs to be checked out as soon as possible. Some of the main causes of erectile dysfunction include
• Diabetes
• Hardening of the arteries, which can lead to high blood pressure, angina or poor circulation
• Kidney disorders
• Multiple sclerosis or other neurological diseases
• High cholesterol
• Side effects of prescribed drugs
• Heavy smoking
• Alcoholism and drug abuse
• Pelvic surgery
• Prostate cancer
Psychological causes
While erectile dysfunction due to physical factors has a gradual onset, psychological impotence can be more sudden. A man who has normal erectile responses during masturbation, or who regularly awakens with an erection, is likely to have a psychological basis for impotence. Psychological causes can include:
• Stress and anxiety from work or home
• Fatigue
• Problems within your relationship
• Low self esteem
• Depression
• Sexual boredom
• Performance anxiety
Treatments available
Over the past few years there have been major advances in the treatment of impotence and the majority of sufferers can now be treated effectively. A wide variety of options exist for treating ED, including everything from medications (such as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis) and simple mechanical devices to surgery and psychological counseling. Some of the treatments available include
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Oral Prescription treatments. There are three different brands available, namely Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. These treatments have the same active ingredient but range in duration, potency and side-effects. The treatments can remain effective for between two and thirty six hours depending on which treatment you take.
• Psychosexual therapy. When relationship problems are considered to be the cause of your impotence, a course of sex therapy or couples therapy might be recommended.
• Vacuum pumps. A device involving a plastic cylinder and pump is used to make blood rush to your penis, enlarging it in a similar way to an erection. When you remove the pump, the erection is sustained by slipping a tension ring around the base of the penis.
• Injections. A drug is directly injected into the shaft of the penis when you want an erection. An erection usually follows within 15 minutes.
• Transurethral therapy. The drug (in pellet form) is absorbed through the urethra directly into the erectile tissue of the penis, giving an erection within five to ten minutes.
• Hormone treatment. Corrects ED caused by a reduced level of the male sex hormone testosterone
• Penile prosthesis. There are two types of implant. The semi-rigid type keeps the penis rigid all the time but lets you bend it downwards when you're not having sex. The hydraulic type is more sophisticated and causes the penis to stiffen when a pump (implanted in the scrotum) is activated.
• Surgical treatment. A few cases of impotence are caused by abnormalities in blood flow in and out of the penis and can be treated with surgery.
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