Impotence
impotence is the inability to achieve or sustain an erection suitable for sexual intercourse. Problems with erections may stem from medications, chronic illnesses, poor blood flow to the penis, drinking too much alcohol, or being too tired. Lifestyle changes, medications, and other treatments are often used to treat impotence.
impotence, one of the most feared words for men, is the inability to have, or maintain, an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. impotence is classified as either primary (never able to have intercourse, or secondary (had intercourse before dysfunction). Secondary dysfunction is the most common and can occur at any age and results from different causes. This is distinct from isolated episodes of not having or losing an erection which is a universal experience for men, and does not indicate impotence.
Most physicians suggest that treatments for impotence proceed along a path moving from least invasive to most invasive. This means cutting back on any harmful drugs is considered first. Psychotherapy and behavior modifications are considered next, followed by vacuum devices, oral drugs, locally injected drugs, and surgically implanted devices (and, in rare cases, surgery involving veins or arteries).
Oral testosterone can reduce impotence in some men with low levels of natural testosterone. Patients also have claimed effectiveness of other oral drugs--including yohimbine hydrochloride, dopamine and serotonin agonists, and trazodone--but no scientific studies have proved the effectiveness of these drugs in relieving impotence. Some observed improvements following their use may be examples of the placebo effect, that is, a change that results simply from the patient's believing that an improvement with impotence will occur.
Sex therapy may be useful for treating impotence if a man is able to have a normal erection during sleep, the results of his physical examination and blood tests are normal and he is generally in good health. Sex therapy may also be helpful when impotence is caused by stress, such as: work worries, financial worries, relationship conflicts, and poor sexual communication. In these cases, sex therapy may be the best treatment option.
impotence varies in severity; some men have a total inability to achieve an erection, others have an inconsistent ability to achieve an erection, and still others can sustain only brief erections. The variations in severity of impotence make estimating its frequency difficult.
Impotence usually has a physical cause, such as disease, injury, or drug side-effects. Any disorder that impairs blood flow in the penis has the potential to cause impotence. Incidence rises with age: about 5 percent of men at the age of 40 and between 15 and 25 percent of men at the age of 65 experience impotence. Yet, it is not an inevitable part of aging.