Impotence – Causes & Treatments

A lot of good information and help for impotence is available to people who need it. The popularity of recent treatment has also helped remove some of the stigma associated with discussing impotence as more people realize it is often treatable at all ages.

Keeping in mind that there is usually an underlying physical condition that explains impotence, one’s doctor may be the best person to seek advice from. A doctor can determine whether an underlying physical condition, lifestyle factors, a prescription drug side effect, a psychological factor, or some combination of these is responsible for the impotence. He or she does this by taking a detailed personal and medical history, performing a physical examination, making a psychological evaluation, and running laboratory tests if necessary.

This information is then used to plan the best treatment. Urologists, or doctors who specialize in diseases of the urinary tract, are usually the ones who provide such treatment. A gynecologist, often in consultation with an urologist, may treat female sexual dysfunction.

Counseling can be tremendously helpful, particularly for psychological impotence. Counseling may help couples improve communication skills and communicate their sexual needs better, or provide practical tips for making sex physically fulfilling to both partners. If someone has suffered from abuse or post-traumatic stress disorder, counseling can help inculcate coping skills. People whose impotence is linked to depression, anxiety or stress can also benefit from counseling by a skilled professional and guidance on treatment that may offer relief for both the underlying psychological condition and for impotence.

There are several free and reliable sources on the Internet such as the American Urological Association website, that provide detailed information on the causes and treatment of impotence. These sources may be useful for both the person suffering from impotence and their sexual partner.

Impotence falls into two broad categories, impotence caused by a physical condition and that caused by a psychological condition. Sometimes impotence due to a physical condition may be worsened by a psychological component. The treatment of impotence should always include treatment of the underlying cause as well.

Impotence may be treated with counseling, drugs, surgery, mechanical aids, or some combination of these. Psychological impotence lends itself best to counseling, though anyone with impotence can benefit from counseling on coping mechanisms and available treatment options. As far as drugs go, some drugs may cause impotence and replacing or removing them from an individual’s treatment plan may take care of the problem. If testosterone deficiency is the cause, replacement therapy can be started. Some drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, can be taken by mouth and act by relaxing smooth muscle in blood vessels, allowing them to carry more blood to the penis. Other drugs that also relax smooth muscle in blood vessels can be injected into the side of the penis with a tiny needle, or inserted into the tip of the male urethra in pellet form using a special applicator.

Surgical treatment options for impotence include different types of penile implants, surgery to slow down the flow of blood out of the penis, and surgery to improve the flow of blood into the penis. In some people, the use of a vacuum device or a penile splint may help the penis stay upright.

There are several lifestyle changes that may both treat impotence and prevent it. These include quitting smoking, losing weight, being physically active, treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and reducing stress. Besides improving sex drive and the ability to enjoy sexual intercourse, such changes can also help improve other underlying medical conditions.

Male impotence, or erectile dysfunction, is the inability to maintain an erection for a long enough time to have sex. A man who suffers from impotence may be unable to have an erection altogether, be unable to maintain it for more than a short period, or may be able to have an erection sometimes and not at other times. Approximately 10 to 15 million American men suffer from some form of impotence. The good news is that it is easy to understand and can be treated in all age groups.

To understand impotence, it helps to have a basic understanding of how an erection happens. The penis has a large amount of spongy tissue, through which blood vessels run, and some muscle. When a man is sexually stimulated through touch or mentally, nerve signals trigger a flow of blood from arteries into the spongy tissue in the penis. This tissue becomes engorged, making the penis erect. When an erection subsides, muscles in the penis contract, effectively squeezing the blood of the spongy tissue through veins. If there is any interference with the nerve signals or blood flow that cause an erection, impotence may result.

In the majority of cases, male impotence has an underlying cause. Diseases like diabetes, alcoholism, and kidney disease may affect both nerve signals and blood flow. Surgery or injuries to the bladder, prostate, and male urethra may cause nerve damage. Cardiovascular disease or other diseases of the blood vessels may interfere with blood flow. Nerve signals may be altered due to psychological reasons including anxiety and stress.

How does one deal with impotence? Going to a doctor is the first step, because this may help identify an underlying medical condition that should be treated. Exercise may reduce impotence in older men. Other lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking and losing weight may also help.