What Is Impotence & How Is It Treated?

What is Impotence?

If you have trouble getting or keeping an erection or don't ejaculate regularly, you may be suffering from impotence, a term that replaces ED in common use. This type of male sexual dysfunction can be exacerbated by a number of circumstances, such as mental and physical illness.

About 30 million U.S. adults suffer from erectile dysfunction, says the Urology Care Foundation.

• Table of Contents
• Symptoms of Impotence
• Causes of Impotence
• Treatment For Impotence

Researchers found an association between age and impotence in a research published in the American Journal of Medicine in 2007. Researchers have found that the prevalence is much higher among males who have been identified as having at least one cardiovascular risk factor.

It's not uncommon for impotence to have a deleterious impact on a person's sex life, as well as their mental health, stress levels, and sense of self-worth.

Symptoms of Impotence

It's a prevalent misperception that erectile dysfunction makes it impossible to get an erection. Other signs of impotence include:

• Being inconsistent in the ability to get an erection every time you engage in sexual activity.
• Failing to sustain an erection during the entire sexual experience.

Over time, impotence might start to have an impact on your relationships with sexual partners and quality of life. Nevertheless, there are a variety of treatments available for many of the underlying reasons for ED.

Consider consulting your doctor who knows your medical history, about the potential causes of your ED and the possible treatment choices if you are exhibiting any of these symptoms.

Causes of Impotence

Identifying the root of your problem by learning about the most common diagnoses is possible. We'll go through five of the most frequent reasons men lose their potency:

Endocrine Disorders

Hormones are secreted by the endocrine system and play a role in controlling many physiological and psychological processes.

Having diabetes is just one example of an endocrine disorder that can lead to impotence. The hormone insulin's effectiveness in the body is compromised in those with diabetes.

Nerve injury is a known consequence of long-term diabetes. The feelings in the penis are altered. Impaired blood flow and hormone levels are further diabetes consequences. When combined, they can make it difficult to conceive a child.

Diseases of the Brain and Nerves

Several neurologic disorders can make men more susceptible to impotence. The brain's capacity to communicate with the reproductive system is impacted by nerve disorders. This may make it difficult for you to get an erection. Impotence-related neurological conditions include:

• Alzheimer's condition.
• Parkinson's condition.
• Spinal or brain tumors.
• Multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Stroke.
• Epilepsy of the temporal lobe.

Additionally, nerve damage from prostate surgery might cause impotence by impairing sexual function. For example, bicyclists who ride for long distances may experience transient impotence. The nerve function may be impacted by repeated pressure on the buttocks and genitalia.

Taking Medications

Blood flow can be impacted by taking some drugs, which might result in ED. Some knowns medication that can lead to issues with sexual function are drugs for depression, prostate cancer, high blood pressure, and heart or cardiovascular disease. Regardless of whether a medicine is known to cause impotence, you should never stop taking it without your doctor's approval.

• Alpha-adrenergic blockers, such as tamsulosin (Flomax), antihistamines like cimetidine (Tagamet), beta-blockers
• like carvedilol (Coreg) and metoprolol (Lopressor).
• Alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and codeine are central nervous system (CNS) depressants.
• Coca and amphetamines are CNS stimulants.
• Diuretics such as furosemide (Lasix) and spironolactone (Aldactone).
• Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) include fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil).

Cardiac-Related Conditions

Irregular heart rhythms or other heart problems that prevent the heart from pumping blood efficiently might lead to impotence. You can't get an erection if the blood vessels in your penis isn't getting enough blood.

Impotence can be brought on by atherosclerosis, which causes blood arteries to harden and narrow. Another cardiovascular disease that is a risk factor for impotence is hypertension, which includes both high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels.

Lifestyle Factors

If you are someone who has been diagnosed with ED caused by performance anxiety, you may be able to have full erections when masturbating or when you are sleeping, but you may not be able to maintain an erection when you are engaging in sexual activity, and this may have something to do with the lifestyle choices you make. Impotence is one of the potential side effects of substance use disorders, which can be brought on by substances like cocaine and amphetamines. Inappropriate or disordered use of alcohol, often known as alcohol use disorder (AUD), might interfere with your ability to get or keep an erection.

On the other side, consuming a bad diet, leading a sedentary lifestyle, and having emotional issues may all contribute to an increased risk of impotence.

Risk Factors for Impotence

Erections may take longer to form and may not be as robust as they once were as you age. To achieve and maintain an erection, you might require more direct contact with your penis. Erectile dysfunction can be caused by a number of risk factors, including:

• Health issues, especially diabetes or heart issues.
• Tobacco smoking can, over time, produce chronic health concerns that result in erectile dysfunction because it reduces blood flow to veins and arteries.
• Being obese, especially if you are overweight.
• Some medical procedures, such as radiation therapy for cancer or prostate surgery.
• Accidents, especially those that harm the arteries or nerves that control erections
• Pharmaceuticals, such as antidepressants, antihistamines, and drugs for high blood pressure, discomfort, or disorders of the prostate.
• Mental illnesses like stress, worry, or depression.
• Use of drugs and/or alcohol, particularly if you have used drugs for a long time or drank a lot.

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Emotional Disorders

Anxiety and depression have been linked to a higher likelihood of impotence. Depression is characterized by a persistent state of sadness, hopelessness, or helplessness. Depressive exhaustion is a known cause of impotence in men.

Impotence might also be brought on by nerves about performing. If you've had trouble getting an erection in the past, you might worry that you never will be able to.

With certain partners, you can discover that you just cannot get an erection. When diagnosed with ED due to performance anxiety, a man may be able to get and keep an erection while masturbating or sleeping but struggle to do so during sex or when in a sexual encounter.

Treatment For Impotence

Impotence can be treated with a variety of methods, including medication, natural therapies, and behavioral adjustments.

Medication

To treat impotence, a number of medical procedures are available. Impotence prescription medications include:

• Avanafil (Stendra), sildenafil, and the injectable or suppository form of alprostadil (Caverject, Edex, MUSE) (Viagra).
• Tadalafil (Cialis) (Cialis).
• Vardenafil, a testosterone replacement drug (Staxyn, Levitra) (TRT).

Non-Invasive, Non-Medication Treatments

A number of natural treatments for impotence are available if you wish to avoid taking prescription drugs. It's crucial to remember that the FDA does not always evaluate or confirm the efficacy of these alternative treatments, so you might not experience the outcomes these products promise. Be cautious and speak with your doctor first before using any natural cures. Impotence alternative treatments include:

• Acupuncture.
• Panax ginseng, also referred to as Korean red ginseng.
• Juice of pomegranates.
• Yohimbe.

Therapy

Testosterone therapy may restore normal erections and enhance sexual desire in the rare instances where a low sex drive and low blood levels of testosterone are the cause of ED. It may also work in conjunction with ED medications (PDE type 5 inhibitors). Some other therapy treatments are:

• Intracavernosal (ICI) and Urethra (IU) Therapies.
• Self-Injection Therapy.
• Vacuum Erection Device.
• Intraurethral (IU) Therapy.
• Surgical Treatment.

If you have any doubts about whether therapy is the best option for you, discuss the advantages and disadvantages with your doctor. Before recommending any therapy, your doctor will most likely do at least two testosterone levels tests on you.

Lifestyle Changes

There are many instances where altering your way of life might lessen issues with ED, regardless of whether your impotence has a physical or emotional origin. Examples of these lifestyle changes and modifying the behaviors of men with impotence, per an article in the Journal of Restorative Medicine, include:

• If you smoke, quit.
• Moderate alcohol consumption.
• Exercising.
• Engaging in supportive communication in a love relationship.
• Eating a good, well-balanced diet.
• Lowering stress.
• If you believe that a mental health expert should be consulted regarding your ED, you might also want to do so.

When To See a Doctor

A smart place to start when you have erectile dysfunction or impotence is with your family doctor. Consult a medical professional if:

• You have questions about your erections or you're having other sexual issues, such as premature or delayed ejaculation.
• You suffer from diabetes, heart disease, or any ailment that is known to be associated with erectile dysfunction.
• Along with erectile dysfunction, you also have additional symptoms.

Impotence Prevention

Impotence has a multitude of causes. However, there are still things you may take to help prevent it. Methods that could be used to avoid problems include:

• A lower chance of impotence through exercise.
• Avoiding smoking, drugs, or alcohol abuse.
• Sleep hygiene, together with dietary and lifestyle changes, can significantly lessen exposure to stress, anxiety, and depression.

Do you have any more questions about impotence? You can contact our team of experts and let them guide you through the benefits of erectile dysfunction treatment. Don’t let ED or impotence take the best of you. Call Golden State Urology and start taking care of your health today.