Men's Health

Written by Mark Abell

Impotence

Although most probably will not tell anyone, an estimated 10 to 20 million American men suffer from some form of sexual impotence. Once thought to be a psychological problem and left behind closed doors, we are beginning to understand that the causes of impotence can be linked to other things besides problems with behavior and psychology. The term impotence merely defines the problem of not being able to obtain an erection for the purpose of a sexual relationship; and since we know that a lot of men have the problem, it would be prudent to try to have a better understanding of the causes as well as ways to treat it.

Aging is no longer considered a realistic reason for not being able to engage in sexual activity with a partner due to impotence, notwithstanding, of course, any severe functional problems, such as cancer or a neurological problem.

Years ago, when a gentleman approached a clinician with a problem such as impotence, there were usually two steps taken - one was to give the option of seeking psychological counseling and the other was a referral to a urologist (physician of the urinary system). While these two steps might also be considered, it is also necessary to understand that, in most cases, your own doctor might already have the tools to determine some of the causes of your problem. An informed patient is a treated patient, at least in some cases. So, read on.

There are a good number of diseases (or medical problems) that can easily lead to impotence. And, to some degree, your physician ought to entertain the many possibilities before referring you to a specialist, which, in most cases, will cost your a lot more money than what your primary physician charges. For example, besides doing the normal physical exam, as well as few special tests (which may or may not be necessary), problems such as thyroid dysfunction (as in hypothyroidism), diabetes, and hypertension can lead to varying degrees of sexual dysfunction and impotence. It can not be overstated that alcohol (especially if consumed in excess and for a long period of time) can lead to impotence, not to mention liver problems. The same is true for cigarettes.

If you visit your physician about such a problem (as sexual impotence), you should remember to bring all of your medications. Well, there is a reason for that. To some degree, some of the medications used for treating high blood pressure (especially the "beta blockers", "calcium channel blockers", and the "alpha blockers") can cause impotence. Then there is still the age old problem with respect to your own "well being". For example, anxiety, marital discord, and stress can all become factors, whether they are obvious or not. Some "clues" to the etiology of the impotence (and to help determine if it is psychogenic) is the onset; usually such factors that are related to behavior in general are rather abrupt, whereas other problems, which are metabolic, are not so abrupt.

The real list of causes for sexual dysfunction and impotence is rather long; but to be brief, you probably should realize that everything from vascular problems (atherosclerosis) and "other end-organ problems" can lead to or become a factor in your impotence. There are also some hormonal situations (alluded to already above), such as pituitary dysfunction, which can cause or exacerbate the symptoms of impotence.

Now that we have grasped that issue, let's talk about what can be done about it. Essentially, there are three basic options available: injection of vasoactive medications, surgical implantation of a penile prosthesis, and the use of vacuum and band devices. This is, of course, assuming that whatever is causing the impotence cannot be corrected medically. While it is true that halting some drugs and perhaps correcting a metabolic problem might "cure" some people, it is not always true that we can expect a one-hundred percent cure rate. There are no guarantees. It would be prudent to discuss all options with your physician, and, if necessary, seek the attention of another opinion. That might be important to you. With regard to "what works best" and which treatment is better, most clinicians and patients opt for the injection, while most do not opt for the prosthesis.

Whatever the cause of sexual dysfunction, it is considered a large problem within the male population and people are beginning to seek medical attention more often. Sexual function is important in a relationship; doing what is necessary to help prevent further problems or correct a current problem can help in the long run. See your doctor for details - since it is widely accepted and treatment is available.

For those Internet Surfers - there are literally thousands of sites out there offering more information about sexual dysfunction. I enjoin you to search through the web using the key word "Impotence". Have fun.

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