IMPOTENCE. It is an age-word for a sexual problem that men still have to deal with these days – the disorder of not being able to attain or maintain an erection until ejaculation. It is differently called erectile dysfunction (ED). This disorder is so annoying that a lot of males feel powerless when facing it. It is estimated that as many as 30 million men in the USA suffer from ED. Yet, inspite of a number of treatments, only 10% of the sick seek help. DEFINING THE PROBLEM Rare as it is, primary impotence means that a man has never had an erection sufficient for intercourse. Secondary erectile dysfunction, a loss of erectile ability after normal function, commonly proceeds slowly unless caused by injury or sudden illness. People once believed that impotence was commonly triggered by psychological problems. But nowadays we are well-aware that conditions such as tension, depression and fear of sexual powerlessness are at the root of only 10% to 20% of ED. It is most often triggered by physical factors, for instance vascular problems, nerve damage, abnormalities in the penile area. Male sexual disorder can also be an adverse reaction to certain prescriptions and drugs obtained without a prescription. However, whatever the causes are, it is typical of males who suffer from sexual dysfunction to have feelings of guilt, anxiety and low self-esteem. WHAT PUTS MEN AT RISK? First of all, age. The older you become, the higher your risk for erectile dysfunction is. Older men have many more physical reasons for a lack of arousal than younger males. The penis requires adequate blood flow to become erect. Thus, it is not surprising that vascular problems – such as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries – are often to put the blame on, particularly as these diseases are typical of middle-aged to older males. Since smoking greatly decreases arterial flow, chain-smoking also badly impacts on erections at every age. But erectily dysfuncion can also be a cause of the penile nerve damage resulted from various factors, especially injury and chronic diseases, for instance diabetes. Actually, peripheral neuropathy, a specific pattern of diabetes-related nerve damage, is one of the most common causes of ED, because diabetics suffer from narrowed arteries, which causes an insufficient blood flow to the penile area. In addition, surgery on the prostate gland, bladder, rectum or colon or prolonged exposure to radiation can also intervene with nerve signals between the brain and sexual organs, thus hampering erections. Without nerve-sparing techniques, for instance, prostate gland cancer surgery can lead to nerve damage located near the penis. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases causing neurological impairments can also make you impotent. Finally, endocrine profile imbalances, such as a low level of testosterone, seldom trigger ED. The cause of erectile dysfunction and your way of life determine the treatment you and your doctor select. |
