| Impotence. It is an age-word for a sexual disorder males still face today – the problem of being unable to attain or maintain an erection until ejaculation. It is differently called erectile dysfunction (ED). This disorder is so vexing that a lot of males are powerless to deal with it.
About thirty million men in the United States are estimated to suffer from ED. Still, despite a host of treatments, only 10% of men seek aid.
SPECIFYING THE DISORDER
Rare as it is, primary erectile dysfunction means that a male has never had an erection sufficient for intercourse. Secondary erectile dysfunction, a more common loss of erectile ability after normal function, typically develops gradually unless triggered by injury or sudden illness.
People once believed that impotence was usually triggered by psychological problems. But we now know that factors such as stress, depression and fear of sexual powerlessness are at the causes of only 10% - 20% of ED. It is typically triggered by physical factors, such as blood vessel problems, nerve damage, penile abnormalities. Erectile dysfunction can also be a side effect of certain prescriptions and drugs obtained over-the-counter. Nevertheless, whatever the causes are, it is typical of males who experience sexual dysfunction to have feelings of guilt, anxiety and low self-esteem.
WHAT PUTS MEN AT RISK?
Age, for starters. The older you become, the higher your risk for sexual disorder is. An older man is more likely than a younger man to have physical reasons for a lack of arousal.
The penis needs sufficient blood flow to become erect. So, it is clear that blood vessel disorders – such as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries – are often to put the blame on, particularly as these diseases are often observed in middle-aged to older men. Since smoking decreases arterial flow, chronic cigarette use also badly impacts upon erections at any age.
But ED can also be a cause of the penile nerve damage resulted from various factors, particularly injury and chronic diseases, for example diabetes. In fact, peripheral neuropathy, a specific pattern of nerve damage related to diabetes, is one of the commonest causes of sexual disorder, since diabetes brings about narrowing of the arteries, constricting penile blood flow.
Besides, surgery on the prostate gland, bladder, rectum or colon or prolonged exposure to radiation can also interfere with nerve signals between the brain and sexual organs, thus obstructing erections. Without nerve-sparing techniques, for instance, prostate gland cancer surgery can lead to nerve damage near the genitals. Other neurological complications – brought on by multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease – can also leave you impotent.
As for imbalances in endocrine system, such as a lack of testosterone, they seldom cause ED.
The treatment you and your family doctor select depends on the cause of ED and your life-style. |
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