Impotence

Impotence is a condition in which a man cannot get an erection long enough for sexual intercourse. It's a common problem that can be very frustrating to the man and his partner, but, it can be treated.

Impotence is Common
Most men occasionally have difficulty getting an erection. However, about one in every ten men suffer from continuing, or chronic, impotence. This impotence can be caused by an illness, drug, depression, or anxiety, and can be devastating to the man and his partner. If you are one of these men, you do not have to live with your impotence. Help is available. If you are impotent, you should make an appointment with our physician. Remember, in most cases impotence can be successfully treated in the clinic.

How is Impotence Diagnosed?
Usually, after asking questions about how the impotence developed, your doctor will give you a complete physical exam. This exam is to determine if the blood vessels, nerves, and tissues of your penis are working normally. Other tests are also available to help find the cause of impotence. For example, one test monitors the erections a man has each night while he sleeps. If these erections are no longer occurring the impotence may be from a physical cause. Other tests can determine if blood to the penis is slow, or if hormonal problems are causing impotence.

How is Impotence Treated?
There are two steps to solving the problem of impotency. Initially, the doctor will need to determine the cause of the impotency. In addition, the doctor will help you choose an appropriate treatment. For psychological impotence, your doctor may recommend a qualified psychologist or counselor who could help. If the impotency is physical, and is diagnosed as permanent, our doctor may offer several options for treatment. one of these is oral medication. Others may be injectible medication, or vacuum therapy. If surgery is indicated, our doctor may refer you to a urologist. It is important that you understand the alternatives so you can choose the treatment best suited for you.

Impotence can be caused by a physical condition or a psychological problem that prevents a man from having and maintaining an erection.

How Does an Erection Occur?
For an erection to occur, several parts of the body must work together. A man cannot get an erection simply because he wants one. The brain sends messages to control the nerves, hormone levels, blood flow, and muscles that cause an erection. When all of these messages work together, there are two spongy-tissue chambers in the shaft of the penis that fill with blood, making the penis firm. However, several things can interfere and prevent an erection from happening. Psychological impotence can happen when a man is under stress, is depressed, or is worried that he won't "perform" well during sexual intercourse. In more than half of all casses impotence occurs because of a physical cause. Diseases, surgery, or an accident can damage blood vessels or nerves leading to the penis. Medication and hormone problems can also affect the erection process.

There are many physical causes of impotence. The most common are:

Diabetes
According to physicians, the nerves or blood vessels that control the flow of blood to the penis may become damaged when a man has diabetes. In some cases, keeping the diet and the blood sugar level under control may decrease the impotence. However, permanent damage to these nerves and vessels may result in chronic impotence.

Surgery in the Pelvic Area
Surgery to remove cancer from the prostate, bladder, or in the colon/rectal area can cause impotence. In cancer surgery, the surgeon's most important goal is to remove all of the cancer, but the nerves and blood vessels that control erections may be near the cancerous tissue. Sometimes, these tissues get damaged in the effort to remove the cancer.

Spinal Cord Injury
The spinal cord is the relay center for nerve impulses, brain messages, and blood flow. When the spinal cord is damaged in certain locations, messages cannot get through the nerves to the penis, causing impotence. Certain prescription medication for men with spinal cord injury can cause temporary impotence. Your doctor may be able to alter the prescription, but the medication should never be changed without your doctor's permission.

Medication
Some prescriptions for high blood pressure, depression, and a number of other conditions may cause impotence. The medication can interfere with impulse or blood flow to the penis. Although impotence might be a side effect of these drugs, the doctor has determined that the drugs are necessary. Sometimes the medication or the dosage may be changed to reverse the impotence, but this should never be done without you doctor's permission.

Alcoholism and Hormone Problems
Alcoholism disrupts the hormone level and can lead to permanent nerve damage, resulting in impotence. This type of impotence may be reversible or permanent depending on the severity of the nerve damage. Hormone levels alone are rarely the cause of impotence, but certain diseases can disrupt the balance of hormones. Kidney failure and liver disease are among those diseases.