Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist). This article has been written according to strict guidelines and medical standards.
Medically reviewed by: Thomas Fischer (Pharmacist)
Impotence is an authentic and severe condition. It affects at least fifty percent of the adult male population at some stage during their lives.
In some instances, albeit unknowingly, impotence is self-inflicted. Other cases have a more natural origin. Regardless of the source, though, this condition causes severe psychological trauma and wreaks havoc in relationships.
You does not have to live with this condition, though. Medical research and technology have, after all, progressed beyond the dark ages.
In self-induced cases of erectile dysfunction, the solution is often as easy as simply changing the medication you use or altering your drinking habits. In other instances where this is not possible or where the condition has a more natural origin, there are medical treatments available to counter this condition’s symptoms.
In this article, we will define impotence, explore its possible causes, and examine the various treatment methods available.
Defining Impotence (Erectile Dysfunction) - What Is It Exactly?
Impotence, or Erectile Dysfunction (ED), is a sexual dysfunction in adult men. It prevents affected men, on a continuous basis, from producing or maintaining an adequate penile erection.
During sexual stimulation, the male body manufactures nitric oxide in the penile area. This substance handles the production of cyclic Guanosine Monophosphate (cGMP) enzymes. These enzymes are responsible for the contraction and expansion of blood vessels. Which, in turn, allows for an increased flow of blood into the penis.
After ejaculation, phosphodiesterase type five (PDE5) enzymes destroy the cGMP enzymes. This action allows for the penis to return to its natural flaccid state.
In men with impotence, this process is flawed. PDE5 enzymes are in excess in the male body. They prematurely attack the cGMP preventing the increased blood flow to the penis. This prevents men from having a proper erection or any at all.
Did you know?
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)?
Your risk of developing impotence increases with age, unhealthy lifestyle and diet, and a lack of exercise.
Various conditions may result in impotence, including:
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Obesity
- Heart disease
- Metabolic syndrome
- Peyronie's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Substance abuse
- Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) treatments
- Peripheral vascular and blood vessel-related diseases
- Relationship problems
- Psychological issues (Depression, stress, anxiety)
- Systemic disease
- Non-prescription and prescription medications (i.e., heart and blood pressure medications, etc.)
- Hormonal imbalance
- Atherosclerosis (Arterial hardening)
- Penile, prostate, spinal cord, pelvic, and bladder surgery or injuries
- Alcoholism
- Type 1 and 2 Diabetes
- Renal (kidney) failure
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
- Low Testosterone
- Prostatitis
- Prostate cancer
- Smoking
- Vitamin D deficiency
The above is not a complete list of the causes of impotence. Speak to your doctor to conduct the necessary testing to pinpoint the source of your erectile dysfunction.
Alcoholism & Impotence
Moderate drinking often results in a man becoming more confident while under the influence. Unfortunately, that is where the benefits of drinking end when it comes to your sex life.
Excessive alcohol intake (alcohol abuse or alcoholism) is one of the leading causes of ED in men. Studies show that alcohol abuse may increase your chances of experiencing sexual dysfunction by up to 70 percent.
Alcohol is a depressant, and excessive use may dampen the mood and decrease sexual desire. It may also prevent you from being able to produce an erection or to experience ejaculation.
Alcohol abuse can result in temporary to long-term impotence. This is exponentially increased if you combine excessive drinking with smoking.
Erectile Dysfunction From Antihypertensive Therapy
Antihypertensive drugs are used in the treatment of high blood pressure. The function of these drugs is to lower a person’s blood pressure.
There is a large number of antihypertensive medications on the market that act in different ways to lower blood pressure.
Unfortunately, many of these drugs may cause impotence in men. These include diuretics (water pills) and beta-blockers.
Certain antihypertensive drugs are less likely to cause impotence; these include:
- Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (ACE) inhibitors (increases blood flow and widens blood vessels)
- Calcium Channel Blockers
- Alpha-Blockers, and
- ARB's (Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers), may improve sexual function
If you believe that you are impotent due to an antihypertensive drug, speak to your doctor. They can change your medication and prescribe a medicine that is less likely to cause ED.
Impotence - Signs & Symptoms
Impotence is the inability to have and maintain an erection adequate for intercourse.
If this problem has happened a couple of times, but not regularly, there is no need to worry. If it is a persistent problem, though, then you need to speak to your doctor asap. Erectile dysfunction may be indicative of underlying health conditions in need of treatment. It might also be a risk factor for heart disease.
In many cases, treating underlying conditions may also solve your erectile dysfunction problems. Signs and symptoms of impotence are:
- The ongoing inability to produce an erection
- The persistent failure in maintaining an erection, and
- A continuous reduction in sexual desire.
Impotence Diagnostics
Urologists diagnose impotence by taking an in-depth look at your sexual and medical history. They will also conduct a physical and mental health examination. Your doctor’s diagnosis is only as accurate as the information that you provide him with.
The sexual and medical history part of your doctor’s assessment includes providing detailed information about the following aspects of your life:
- Your ability and confidence to have and maintain an erection during sexual intercourse
- How often you can produce an erection that is firm enough for penetration
- Do you find intercourse satisfying on a regular basis?
- Do you wake up with erections?
- Your level of sexual desire
- How often you can finish intercourse
- Penile surgical and treatment history
- What medication you are currently using
- Alcohol, smoking, and illicit drug usage
This information will allow your doctor to narrow down and understand the cause of erectile dysfunction.
During the mental health part of the assessment, your doctor will fill out a questionnaire with answers provided by yourself and possibly your sexual partner to determine if your impotence is related to emotional or psychological issues.
During the physical exam, your doctor will most frequently check the following:
- Penile sensitivity (a lack of sensation is usually indicative of nervous system problems)
- Penile abnormalities (curved penis, etc.)
- Symptoms indicating hormonal imbalance (i.e., enlarged breasts, extra bodily hair, etc.)
- Blood pressure
- Blood circulation problems
Blood tests may be conducted to establish if your ED is related to underlying medical conditions. These conditions include atherosclerosis, diabetes, hormonal problems, and kidney or renal failure.
There are also imaging tests conducted by a technician. This is to establish the blood flow’s quality in your penis. A handheld device is passed over your phallus after it is injected with medicine that causes an erection. The device captures color images of the direction and speed of blood flow in your penis. A urologist or the radiologist then interprets these images.
Other tests that may be conducted include:
- The nocturnal erection test, and
- The injection test
During the injection test, an intracavernosal injection is administered to your penis, producing an erection. Your doctor will then check the fullness of it and how long it lasts.
These tests are used as diagnostic tools to establish the reason behind your ED. Testing is usually conducted in the urologists’ office.
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What You Should Do If You Are Impotent
You might have erectile dysfunction if you can’t have an erection or maintain an erection through sexual intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction may be related to underlying and untreated conditions. These conditions might be life-threatening if left untreated. Impotence also results in severe psychological conditions in men. These mental problems almost always affect intimate relationships.
The good news is that erectile dysfunction, as well as most of its underlying causes, is treatable.
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
There are a couple of ways to treat erectile dysfunction. Some are very invasive, and others much more gentle. Speak to your doctor or a urologist about the various options and which one will best suit you.
Impotence treatment options include:
- Physical therapy: Kegel exercises might relieve the symptoms of erectile dysfunction
- Oral medications: Four medications were developed for the treatment of impotence, namely Sildenafil (Viagra), Tadalafil (Cialis), Vardenafil (Levitra), and Avanafil (Stendra). Many generic drugs have been produced from the original four medications. These drugs are prescription-only and should not be used before consulting your doctor.
- Natural remedies: Various herbal remedies and other available supplements are claimed to be effective in treating impotence.
- Injections: Medication allowing blood to flow into the penis, is injected directly into the side or base of the penis.
- Vacuum Erection Devices: A cylinder, causing vacuum suction, is placed over the penis, which then draws blood into your penis. A rubber band is then placed over the base of the penis to maintain the erection.
- Intraurethral suppositories: A medicated pellet, though the use of an applicator, is inserted into your penis via the opening in the penis's tip. Blood flow into the penis is increased as the pellet dissolves, thus creating an erection.
- Penile implants: A penile prosthetic is implanted in the body of your penis, which, by employing a pump that fills two cylinders, allows for an erection. There are three types available.
- ESWT - Extracorporeal Shock Wave Therapy: This is an innovative and new procedure that applies low-intensity shock waves as a treatment to various areas of your penis.
Most men prefer oral medications to treat their erectile dysfunction condition. The reasons for this are easy to understand. Drugs are often either the most efficient or least invasive method of treating impotence.
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How To Reduce Your Risk For Impotence
You can make several changes to your lifestyle that will help to reduce the risk of erectile dysfunction. These include:
- Avoid using alcohol excessively
- Quit smoking
- Adapt to a healthier lifestyle
- Exercise regularly and become fitter
- Change your eating habits, eat more fruit and vegetables, and cut down on red meat.
A healthy lifestyle typically promotes a healthy sex life and vice versa.
Impotence - Which Doctor Is Best Suited To Deal With This Condition
If you suspect that you might be impotent, ask your doctor to refer you to a urologist.
The urologist must establish whether or not you are impotent. If you are, he will conduct further tests to find the underlying cause of your condition.
Should your erectile dysfunction be related to an underlying cardiovascular condition, your physician will refer you to a Cardiologist. These doctors are best suited to deal with heart and blood vessel-related conditions and can simultaneously treat your erection problems.
If your impotence is related to psychological problems, then it is probably best to be referred to a psychiatrist. These doctors can treat your ED problem by addressing the psychological issues that are responsible for your condition.
Typically, adequately addressing the underlying conditions often also resolves your erectile dysfunction problem.
In general, a urologist is more than capable of dealing with ED but might not have the expertise to treat the underlying conditions.
Erectile Dysfunction - How Can Women Help Men With This Condition?
There are a number of ways women can help men with ED.
The first step for women is to provide emotional support, patience, and understanding to their partner.
Explore new options like watching an adult movie and try to enhance arousal with different techniques. Remove emphasis from the penis by exploring with oral sex or sex toys.
Medication takes time to become active, be patient as your man cannot produce an erection on demand. Also, encourage him to eat and become more healthy. A healthy lifestyle often leads to a more active sex life.
Can Impotence Induced by Diabetes Be Cured?
Men living with diabetes have a three times higher likelihood of developing ED.
Diabetes, as well as its treatment, often affects several bodily functions, including blood vessels, nerves, psyche, and hormones. To produce an erection, you need these functions to work together and without problems.
Erectile dysfunction is one of those conditions that doesn’t just disappear. Fortunately, with the correct treatment prescribed by your physician, it is treatable. Impotence is often not wholly curable; however, the symptom can be relieved in the short term.
How To Buy Medication To Treat Impotence Online
Modern technology has brought us telehealth clinics. These clinics are online healthcare facilities aimed at providing cost-effective and convenient medical services.
Online clinics, in general, accept most healthcare insurers as payment as well as cash-paying customers. You supply the details of your preferred payment method during the registration process.
To obtain your erectile dysfunction medication has never been easier. Simply follow the following steps:
- Find a trustworthy online telehealth clinic.
- Register an account and create a profile.
- Book an appointment.
- Consult with the online doctor. Be sure to inform him of your erectile dysfunction condition and request a script for the desired medication.
- After the consultation, the physician will then forward your script to an online pharmacy which will dispense, package, and deliver your medication via an overnight delivery service.
Do not deal with online pharmacies that offer erectile dysfunction medication for sale without a prescription. These pharmacies often sell counterfeit drugs, which, when used, may result in severe health problems.
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