Impotence Factfile

Impotence can be defined as the inability of a male to gain or maintain an erection on a regular and repeated basis. This eventually leads to dis-satisfactory sexual performance and in turn, marital issues which lead to broken relationships.

Some individuals suffering from impotence are either not able to get erections at all or get partial erections that are not sufficient for penetration. While, some impotent men get proper erections but are not able to sustain it long enough to conclude the sexual act to achieve mutual satisfaction. It is also essential to know the mechanics by which an erection occurs and about ensuing impotence or erection problems. An erection is known to occur when blood enters and is then retained in the sponge-like smooth muscles of the penis. This generally occurs upon sexual stimulation through any medium. This stimulus is then transmitted to the pelvis from the brain. A similar stimulus is delivered to the brain when the urinary bladder is full.

Causes of Impotence

Impotence may very well have a psychological basis; like the fear of failure, bad sexual performance, relationship problems, depression, or exhaustion which often leads to the onset of the disorder. In addition, impotence being a sensitive and personal issue, it is not easily discussed and hence it further fuels the underlying problems.

However, the most important causes of impotence are cardiovascular or neurological disorders, diabetes, hormonal disorders as well as side effects of some medications.

Apart from the above mentioned reasons, mental disorders, surgery (mainly involving post cancer surgery), aging, drug or alcohol abuse, obesity, or cigarette smoking can also lead to impotence.

However exhaustive the above mentioned list of causes may be there are bound to be many more reasons that can result in impotence in human males. In addition, impotence may be a result of a combination of psychological as well as physical causes with differing intensities in different age groups.

Diagnosis of Impotence

As such there are no concrete tests that help diagnose impotence. However, in recent times certain clinical methods or tests have been developed for this purpose. Some of these tests include: penile angiography, magnetic resonance angiography and duplex ultrasound among others.

Treatment

The treatment of impotence depends on the resultant cause. It is said that there is no permanent cure for impotence; however the treatments available enable the individual to have erections that ensure satisfying sexual activity.

For hormonal causes, testosterone supplements are usually given. This is the only probable permanent treatment, but hormonal deficiency is a rarity in males. Lack of blood supply to the penis is the most common cause and various treatments are available that help improve and sustain the blood supply.

Some of the impotence treatments are enlisted as follows:

Oral medications – These are generally taken around an hour prior to love making and remain in the system for around 4 to 36 hours. Popular oral prescription ED medications are Viagra, Cialis and Levitra.

Vacuum device – Commonly known as the penis pump, it consists of a vacuum pump that draws blood into the penis and then the ring is worn, pushed to the bottom of the penis which sustains the blood flow in order to maintain the erection.

Surgery – Not observed commonly, but in worst case scenarios artificial rods are inserted into the penis to achieve an erection.

Counseling – This is undertaken when the cause is psychological rather than physical. It is also sometimes used in combination with the above mentioned treatments for greater effectiveness.

An important point

An unsuccessful erection signifies the inability of the body to maintain consistent blood flow to the penis and this indicative of an underlying cardiovascular problem in all probability.