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Sexual problems
The Causes of Impotence
Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is the term used when a man has difficulty with either getting an erection or with keeping an erection for long enough to allow satisfactory sexual activity.
It is probably the most common sexual problem and affects around 50% of all men over 40 at some point in their lives. It generally becomes more common and severe as a man gets older. However, most men are too embarrassed to seek help for a condition, which in most cases is treatable.
How an Erection Occurs
The shaft of the penis has two chambers that fill up with blood during sexual arousal. These are known as the corpora cavernosa. When a man has sexual feelings, the brain communicates this sexual excitement through the nerves, and these eventually reach the genitals. The nerves then bring about a relaxation of the muscle cells in the walls of the blood vessels entering the penis. This increased blood flow then fills up the two corpora cavernosa resulting in an erection of the penis.
Cause & Cure of ED
There are a number of causes of ED. In around 70% of cases there are physical problems affecting the supply or blood flow to the penis. However, there is also a complex relationship between the physical and psychological aspects of sexual function. For example, physical health problems can cause psychological distress that can have an additional effect on erection problems.
General Physical health
Several conditions can prevent sufficient blood getting into the penis resulting in ED. These include the following:
1. Diabetes and vascular disease (furred-up blood vessels).
There can be problems with keeping the blood within the penis (veno-occlusive disease), resulting in erections that are quickly lost.
2. The nervous system
Problems with the nervous system can affect the transmission of signals from the brain to the blood vessels in the penis. This occurs in conditions such as multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury and Parkinson's disease.
3. Surgery
The nerves involved in sexual arousal can also be damaged by surgery to the pelvic area, such as removal of the prostate.
4. Hormone Levels
In a minority of cases, problems with hormone levels, can also affect the ability to get and maintain an erection.
5. Medicines
The side-effects of medicines such as some treatments for high blood pressure can cause ED. Medicines can also affect sexual drive and desire (libido), or cause problems with ejaculation and orgasm.
Psychological Problems
Psychological problems can also influence the ability to get and maintain an erection. Stress at work, depression, boredom with current sexual partners, relationship problems, and unresolved issues about sexual orientation (such as homosexuality) may also cause problems.
Lifestyle
Many people lead lifestyles that are detrimental to their overall health, and sexual problems naturally occur as a by product of such a lifestyle
1. Drinking
Heavy alcohol consumption affects the ability to get and maintain an erection. "Brewer's droop", as it is commonly called, can occur in heavy drinkers of all ages. Longer term, heavy alcohol consumption is proven to interfere with the production of the male hormone testosterone, which reduces Libido
2. Nicotine
Smoking damages the circulation, so smoking increases the risk of erection problems as these circulation problems result in the inability for blood to flow into the penis.
3. Recreational Drugs
Other recreational drugs such as cocaine, can also have an affect on the ability to achieve and maintain an erection.
4. Fitness
Being physically inactive also contributes to poor cardiovascular fitness and may increase the risk of, and contribute to ED.
5. ED and Age
In younger men the initial problem is often anxiety over the reliability of an erection. Occasional problems are common and do not mean there will be persistent problems. Normally these problems are purely psychological.
However, as men get older, it is common for them to need greater tactile stimulation by themselves or their partner, to achieve an erection. More sexual foreplay may be necessary to ensure a sustained erection, as physical stimulation is needed because mental stimulation is not enough.
Treatment
In around 95% of cases, a suitable treatment for ED can be found either by prescription drugs, a change in diet, herbal supplements, or a general lifestyle change.
The first step to finding a cure is to isolate the problem. Is it caused by physical problems, psychological problems, or a combination of the two? Once the problem is isolated or diagnosed, then a cure is possible.
Psychological Problems: If the problems are psychological then a skilled councillor may be able to help. Being able to discuss the problem and understand it, is sometimes in itself enough to relieve the anxiety and fear of sexual activity, and can lead to a more fulfilling sex life
Physical Problems: If the problems are physical, then there are a number of options available, from changes in diet, prescription pills, herbal remedies, testosterone replacement and general lifestyle changes.
Go To Curing ED
Curing Erectile Dysfunction
What's The Problem? The diagnosis of ED
Many men feel embarrassed to discuss ED problems with their doctor or nurse. However, since the launch of the drug sildenafil, (Viagra), and the increased awareness that it has created, more men are overcoming their embarrassment and fear and consulting a professional.
As we have seen in the section covering the causes of ED, there are many reasons it occurs and some of them may not be obvious to the patient, so a proper consultation is vital.
Physical Problems
The doctor will ask about your general health and about your erections. This will include whether or not you wake up with an erection in the morning, and the strength of the erection compared with the past. The doctor will ask about any medicines you are on, and about any changes in your life that may be having an influence on your sexual health.
A physical examination includes taking blood pressure and checking the pulse in the legs - an indicator of how healthy body blood circulation is. The penis and scrotum will be examined. The doctor may carry out blood tests to look for medical problems, such as anaemia, diabetes, high cholesterol or hormone abnormalities that could be contributing to the problem. Other tests, to assess blood flow and the way the nerves are working, can also be done in specialist hospital clinics.
Psychological Problems
The doctor will also probably ask questions regarding your life generally. Work, stress, relationship problems, worries about sex etc. and from the physical tests will be able to build up an an overall picture of how far the problem is physical mental, or both.
TO BE CONTINUED ……
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