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What is impotence?
Impotence is another word for the medical condition 'Erectile Dysfunction' (ED for short). It is the inability of a man to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for his sexual needs or the needs of his partner.
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Who suffers from it?
Most men experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives, usually by age 40, and the vast majority are not psychologically affected by it. Previously associated with middle age, it has now been established that impotence affects younger men too. |
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Is it normal to get erectile dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction is perfectly normal and will affect most of us at some point throughout our adult lives and can be brought on due to a number of physical and psychological problems. The condition can surface as a result of life changes, relationship issues and a number of other common day issues which all of us have to face. However, as soon as this condition is spotted it is important to seek advice and remedy for your problem. Recent figures have show that men wait on average up to five years before seeking help for their problem. |
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What causes impotence?
The cause is often circulation-related resulting from other conditions such as prescription drug use or diabetes.
In the majority of cases (estimated to be around 70%) there's a physical cause for the impotence where nerve damage or poor blood flow underlies the problem. If a man has early morning erections and can masturbate to climax then the cause is likely to be psychological, which makes up the remainder of cases.
However, many men suffer a combination of physical and psychological reasons. It's very easy for a man with impotence to become stressed and depressed about his situation and this makes matters worse. Men being men tend to suffer in silence and are often too embarrassed or ashamed to talk about the problem to anyone. So even if the cause was physical to start with, the psychological effects will compound the problem.
It has also been suggested that smoking affects your sexual functions. |
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Does smoking and drinking affect this condition?
Yes, both of these social habits can help to worsen or even cause erectile dysfunction amongst men. Smoking does this by causing significant damage to the blood vessels which can reduce or slow down the blood flow in to a man’s penis. This is important to note if you have any other attributing conditions, such as hypertension or high blood pressure, as it is estimated that the risk of erectile dysfunction can double in men with this condition. Alcohol can also cause penile problems, with it slowing down the central nervous system which can make it much more difficult to get an erection when compared with a non-drinking. |
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Can young men get erectile dysfunction?
Yes, it is possible that men of all ages, including those who are relatively young, can develop erectile dysfunction although the risk and chance of getting this problem whilst you are young is significantly less than for those who are older. Clinical studies have put rates of erectile dysfunction amongst young men, under the age of 40, at about 5% of the total population at any given time. In men who are over this age, the risk can increase as much as five fold within approximately 15 to 25% of men suffering with some form of male impotence by the time they reach the age of 65. |
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Can I seek treatment?
95% of sufferers have treatable conditions. Blood flow to the penis is the heart of an erection, so a variety of treatment options address the influx of blood to the penile tissue. For patients with psychological impotence (10-15% of total) a successful treatment is sex therapy.
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How common is impotence?
Unfortunately, Impotence is very common. It is estimated that between 20 and 30 million men in the US have erectile dysfunction, only a small percentage of them have yet to seek or receive treatment. |
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Isn't most impotence an emotional or psychological problem?
While it is true that problems with erections can cause great psychological stress for the man and the partner, the underlying cause of the problem in up to 90% of cases is a physical or medical one, like diabetes, heart disease or high blood pressure. |
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Is impotence treatable?
Yes, often the underlying cause can be determined with a few simple tests and in some cases corrected. Even if the cause is not correctable (i.e. high blood pressure, prostate cancer, atherosclerosis, diabetes, etc) nearly every man can have his erectile dysfunction treated and satisfactory erections restored. |
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