The causes of impotence and how to treat them

Impotence is the inability for a male to get and maintain an erection. It is also known as erectile dysfunction. Impotence can occur due to a variety of physical and psychological reasons.
Impotence is a very common condition that can impact a person’s ability to have satisfactory sexual intercourse. It can occur at any age. However, it is most common among older men.
Impotence
According to the University of Wisconsin, around 5 percent of men in the United States that are over 40 years old have complete erectile dysfunction (ED). Around 15 percent of men over the age of 70 have complete ED.
5 percent
Common causes
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A man’s ability to achieve an erection is based on a number of factors and can result from a variety of physical problems.
Mental health issues and other psychological problems can also cause ED or make it worse.
Mental health
Erectile dysfunction is most commonly caused as a result of a physical factor. The most common causes include:
common causes
heart disease
heart disease
high cholesterol
cholesterol
clogged blood vessels
injury to the penis
diabetes
diabetes
obesity
obesity
metabolic syndrome
Parkinson’s disease
Parkinson’s disease
multiple sclerosis
multiple sclerosis
smoking and other tobacco use
alcoholism
alcoholism
other forms of substance abuse
sleep disorders
prostate cancer treatments or treatments for an enlarged prostate
prostate cancer
spinal cord injuries
Peyronie’s disease
Peyronie’s disease
There are also a number of psychological causes for impotence. These are the most common psychological causes:
stress
stress
depression
depression
anxiety
anxiety
other mental health conditions
relationship problems due to stress, poor communication, or other concerns
Some men may suffer from a combination of physical and psychological issues that can lead to or worsen ED. For example, a physical injury, which may slow a person’s sexual response, may lead to anxiety about achieving an erection. This anxiety can then worsen the ED.
The British National Health Service (NHS) also state that some men may only experience ED in certain situations. For example, a person may be able to achieve an erection during masturbation, or may find that they wake up with an erection.
also state
If a person is unable to get an erection with a sexual partner, the cause of their impotence is most likely to be psychological.
If a person is never able to get an erection, the cause of their impotence is most likely to be physical.
Treatments
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Firstly, a doctor will ensure that the individual is receiving the correct treatments for any other health conditions they may have. It may be that these conditions are causing the ED, or making it worse, so they must be treated properly.
The doctor will then treat the erectile dysfunction directly. There is a range of treatments available for impotence, but they vary according to the cause of the impotence.
There are a handful of oral medications that can be prescribed to people with erectile dysfunction. They include:
sildenafil (Viagra)
Viagra
tadalafil (Cialis)
vardenafil (Levitra)
avanafil (Spedra)
These medications will not automatically cause an erection. The person must still feel some sexual stimulation for them to work. They do not cause sexual excitement and are not aphrodisiacs.
These drugs may cause some side effects, including headaches and facial flushing. Less commonly, a person may experience indigestion, a stuffy nose, and a blue tint to their vision.
headaches
indigestion
These medications should be avoided if a person has the following conditions:
severe heart problems
severe liver problems
has recently suffered a stroke
stroke
has recently suffered a heart attack
heart attack
low blood pressure
blood pressure
certain rare inherited eye diseases
If a person’s erectile dysfunction does not respond to treatment, they may be offered alprostadil. This is a man-made hormone that can help stimulate blood flow to the penis.
A person can either inject the hormone directly into their penis, or place a pellet of alprostadil into their urethra. The urethra is the tube that carries the urine from the bladder to the top of the penis.
According to the NHS, a person taking this hormone will usually experience an erection after 5 to 15 minutes. However, the length of time the erection lasts will vary depending on the dose of alprostadil taken.
5 to 15 minutes
Men who have sickle cell anemia and are at risk of priapism, which is a long-lasting painful erection, should avoid alprostadil. People with other disorders and those who are using other treatments for ED should not take alprostadil.
anemia
Some side effects of this treatment include:
changes in blood pressure
headaches
dizziness
pain in the penis
urethral burning
urethral bleeding
reactions at the location of the injection
Another alternative treatment for impotence is the vacuum pump. This can either be hand operated or battery powered.
A person places a tube over their penis and then pumps all of the air out of the tube, creating a vacuum. This vacuum causes blood to fill the penis making it erect. Placing a rubber ring around the base of the penis holds the blood in place, allowing the person to maintain an erection.
A vacuum pump can allow a man to maintain an erection for around 30 minutes. The NHS call these pumps “effective,” stating that 9 out of 10 men are able to have sex after using them.
9 out of 10 men
A man should not use a vacuum pump if he has a bleeding disorder or if he has taken medicines to reduce the clotting ability of his blood.
Less than a third of men will experience pain and bruising as a result of using a vacuum pump.
Less than a third
Surgery procedures may be recommended but only if all other treatment methods fail.
These surgical treatments involve placing implants, which can be semi-rigid or inflatable, inside the penis.
If erectile dysfunction is caused by stress, anxiety, or other psychological reasons, a doctor will advise the person to visit a psychologist or counselor.
If the condition causes tension and stress within a relationship, both partners may be advised to attend the appointments together. This can be helpful in resolving any issues.
Preventing impotence
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There are a number of ways in which a person can reduce their chance of developing impotence. These include:
not smoking
not abusing alcohol or other substances
pelvic floor exercises
losing weight if obese
taking steps to avoid stress
getting treatment for depression, anxiety, or any other mental health issues
The outlook for a person who has impotence is very good. There is such a range of treatments available that it is highly likely a person will be able to find one that works for them.