| IMPOTENCE. It is an age-word for a sexual problem a lot of males still face these days – the problem of not being able to attain or maintain an erection until ejaculation. It is also called erectile dysfunction (ED). This disorder is so annoying that a lot of males feel powerless when facing it.
Approximately thirty million men in the USA are estimated to suffer from ED. Nonetheless, inspite of a host of treatments, only 10% of sufferers seek aid.
SPECIFYING THE PROBLEM
Rare as it is, primary erectile dysfunction means that a man has never had an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Secondary impotence, a more common loss of erectile ability after normal function, typically develops gradually unless triggered by injury or sudden disease.
Psychological problems were once assumed to cause impotence. But nowadays we are well-aware that conditions such as strain, depression and fear of sexual failure are at the causes of only 10% - 20% of ED. In most cases it is triggered by physical factors, such as vascular problems, neurological disorders, abnormalities in the penile area. Male sexual disorder can also be an adverse reaction to certain prescriptions and over-the-counter medicines. However, whatever the causes are, it is common for men who face impotence to have feelings of guilt, anxiety and low self-esteem.
WHAT PUTS MALES AT RISK?
Age, for starters. The older you become, the higher your risk for sexual disorder is. Older males have got many more physical reasons for a lack of arousal than younger males.
The penis needs sufficient blood flow to become erect. Therefore, it is clear that blood vessel problems – such as atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries – are frequently to blame, in particular since these diseases are frequently observed in middle-aged to older males. Since smoking greatly decreases arterial flow, continuous cigarette abuse also adversely impacts upon erections at any age.
But impotence can also be triggered by damage to genital nerves brought on by many factors, chiefly injury and chronic diseases, for example diabetes. In fact, peripheral neuropathy, a particular pattern of nerve damage related to diabetes, is one of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction, as diabetes brings on 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 impeding erections. Without nerve-sparing techniques, for instance, prostate gland cancer surgery can lead to nerve damage near the penis. Multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases causing neurological complications can also cause impotence.
As for imbalances in endocrine system, such as a low level of testosterone, they seldom cause sexual dysfunction.
The cause of sexual dysfunction and your lifestyle determine the treatment you and your GP give preference to. |
