The inability of a male to sustain an erection for intercourse
is termed as Erectile Dysfunction (ED) or male impotence. It
affects one out of every ten men in America. As 30 million of
men are affected due to ED and men in the age group 40 and above
are more prone to it. Its Signs and symptoms are characterized
by the inability to maintain erection. Normal erections during
sleep and in the early morning suggest a psychogenic cause,
while loss of these erections may signify underlying disease,
often cardiovascular in origin. Other causes leading to erectile
dysfunction are diabetes mellitus (causing neuropathy) or
hypogonadism (decreased testosterone levels due to disease
affecting the testicles or the pituitary gland).
Impotence is treatable at all age groups, and awareness of this
fact has been growing. More men have been seeking help and
returning to near- normal sexual activity because of improved,
successful treatments for impotence.
Impotence is diagnosed by finding the problem, and it is done as:
Patient History
Medical and sexual histories help define the degree and nature
of impotence. A medical history can disclose diseases that lead
to impotence. A simple recounting of sexual activity might
distinguish between problems with erection, ejaculation, orgasm,
or sexual desire. A history of using certain prescription drugs
or illegal drugs can suggest a chemical cause. Drug effects
account for 25 percent of cases of impotence.
Physical Examinations
A physical examination can give clues for systemic problems. If
the penis does not respond as expected to certain touching, a
problem in the nervous system may be a cause. Abnormal secondary
sex characteristics, such as hair pattern, can point to hormonal
problems, which would mean the endocrine system is involved. A
circulatory problem might be indicated.
Laboratory tests
Several laboratory tests can help diagnose impotence. Tests for
systemic diseases include blood counts, urinalysis, lipid
profile, and measurements of creatinine and liver enzymes. For
cases of low sexual desire, measurement of testosterone in the
blood can yield information about problems with the endocrine
system.
Other tests
Monitoring erections that occur during sleep can help rule out
certain psychological causes of impotence. Healthy men have
involuntary erections during sleep. If nocturnal erections do
not occur, then the cause of impotence is likely to be physical
rather than psychological. Tests for this are not completely
reliable.
Psychosocial Examinations
A psychosocial examination, using an interview and
questionnaire, reveals psychological factors. The man?s sexual
partner also may be interviewed to determine expectations and
perceptions encountered during sexual intercourse.
Since an erection requires a sequence of events, impotence can
occur when any of the events is disrupted. Damage to arteries,
smooth muscles, and fibrous tissues, often as a result of
diseases, is the most common cause of impotence. Diseases ?
including diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple
sclerosis, atherosclerosis, and vascular diseases- account for
about 70 percent of cases of impotence.
Many common medicines produce impotence as a side effect. These
include high blood pressure drugs, antihistamines,
antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, and
cimetidine (an ulcer drug).
These all factors contribute 10 to 20 percent of cases of
impotence. These factors include stress, anxiety, guilt,
depression, low self-esteem, and fear of sexual failure. Such
factors broadly associated with more than 80 percent of cases of
impotence, usually as secondary reactions to underlying physical
causes. Other possible causes of impotence are smoking, which
affects blood flow in veins and arteries, and hormonal
abnormalities, such as insufficient testosterone.
About the author:
Smit, http://www.levitratalk.com
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