Impotence
What is impotence?
Impotence, or erectile dysfunction as it is also know, is the inability of a man to be able to sustain an erection good enough for sexual intercourse with their partner. Some sufferers of this condition find it difficult to get an erection at all, irrespective of whether or not they are engaged in penetrative sex. Many men can suffer in silence for many years with this condition, as they find it difficult to talk about their inability to have sex. It is important to note that not all cases of impotence are permanent or share a similar level of severity, this is simply not the case. The vast majority of impotence cases, especially amongst the under 40’s, come into this temporary category and can expect this problem to pass although for the interim drug and other therapies may be very helpful to combating the symptoms of this condition.
How common is impotence?
It has been indicated by leading experts on the subject that about one out of every ten of us will experience some level of impotence throughout their lives. In the UK alone, there are some 2.3 million suspected cases although research has show that approximately as little as 30% of these will seek medical advice, with the rest opting to suffer their condition alone.
What are the causes of impotence?
With most medical conditions it is never as simple as a single cause, and Impotence is no exception to this. There is a vast array of effecting factors that can contribute, or be independently responsible for the onset of this condition. The first thing to be aware of are the popular myths surrounding this condition, there is some truth in most of them however these facts can be greatly misconstrued. A good example of this would be the common believe that Impotence is an unavoidable inevitability that comes with age, this is most definitely not the case. Yes, it is true that age can contribute to developing this condition but just because a man is over the age of 60 this does not mean that they are more than likely to suffer with erectile dysfunction. There are also several physical and psychological causes of erectile dysfunction, the physical causes can include conditions such as diabetes, disease of the nervous system as well as arteriosclerosis, colloquially known as the hardening of the arteries which can be caused by a combination of bad diet and smoking. Psychological causes of impotence, as you might expect are amongst the most frequent causes of impotence, including performance anxiety, stress and depression.
It is important that if you are experiencing symptoms of Impotence that you consult your local GP as not only can the condition itself be treated successfully in the majority of cases, but also any underlining medical cause which you may not be aware of that could also require some attention.
How is impotence diagnosed?
If you feel that you may be suffering with erectile dysfunction and are worried about seeing your own doctor for fear of falling on unsympathetic ears or even being ridiculed there is no need to do so. When you see a doctor about impotence you will be asked a set of formulated questions designed to determine whether or not the symptoms you have been experiencing are those of erectile dysfunction. It is important to be aware that at no point during your initial consultation will you be asked to partake in a physical examination so there is no need to be hesitant whatsoever. If these assurances are not enough for you personally, you could also look online as there are several UK websites who offer an online diagnosis based on these questions who will be able to provide guidance as well as a possible course of treatment that would be best suited to you.
How is impotence treated?
Impotence can be treated in a number of ways, including erection inducing devices as well as drug therapy which can all prove to be fairly effective for the majority of impotence cases. With the advent of orally administered prescription therapies, including drugs such as Levitra, Cialis and the popular Viagra, impotence has never been easier to treat. In the days of old the only prescription treatment options available for this condition were far from pleasant to use, with these being either injected into the base of the penis or administered by insertion into the urethra. These treatments, which include Muse among others, were no doubt successful but for the vast majority of us this method is far from convenience and considerably off-putting. If you are one of the small number of people that drug therapy fails to work for, there are other options available. A popular method from before the time of Viagra and the new generation of erection educing drugs are penis pumps, which are used to draw blood into the penis to create an erection which with a confidence ring, which sits around the base of the penis, can allow the use to maintain an erection for a considerable amount of time. If all else fails there is a surgical option for those who suffering from impotence. This method, which involves putting a surgical implant into the penis which is designed to either support or inflate multiple cylinders, which work to manually induce a somewhat artificial erection. This method is considered a viable option only to those who have been unsuccessful with all other methods, rending this treatment a last resort for sufferers.