Impotence (erectile dysfunction): causes and treatment

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Definition of impotence

What is impotence?

Impotence or better known as impotence is a condition when a man cannot or does not have the ability to get and maintain an erection optimally during sex. Impotence is also known as erectile dysfunction.

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, having erection problems from time to time is not always a cause for concern.

However, if you do experience it, there is a chance that you will feel stressed, lack of self-confidence, and have problems with your partner.

Erectile dysfunction problems can also be a sign of other health problems that may require certain medical treatment. In addition, this condition can increase the risk of heart and blood vessel disease in men.

How common is erectile dysfunction?

Impotence or erectile dysfunction affects men of all races and all parts of the world.

Generally impotence occurs when men enter old age, but this is not always the case. For example, impotence problems can occur in:

• 26 percent of adult men under 40 years
• About 12 percent of men are younger than 60 years
• 22 percent of men aged 60-69 years
• 30 percent of men aged 70 years and over

Based on these data, it can be said that impotence is common with age. However, this condition is not a natural part of aging. Impotence can be overcome by reducing the risk factors.

When you experience impotence and experience symptoms regularly, you should consult a doctor to determine the appropriate treatment method.

Is impotence related to infertility?

Fertility problems or infertility in men can occur due to certain factors. For example, when sexual satisfaction decreases, there will be a psychological burden.

This also makes impotence and infertility interconnected.

One of the symptoms of infertility is when men have problems with sexual function, including erectile dysfunction.

Signs & symptoms of impotence

What are the signs and symptoms of impotence?

The main symptom of impotence is the inability of the penis to achieve an erection, despite being stimulated during sexual intercourse.

Another symptom is difficulty keeping the penis erect so that it can't ejaculate until sex is over.

Some other possible signs of impotence include:

• Sometimes it can get an erection, though not all the time.
• Can get an erection, but not long enough to have sex.
• Really can't get an erection.

There may be some signs or symptoms not listed above. If you have any concerns about erectile dysfunction symptoms, please consult a doctor.

When should you see a doctor?

Doctors are a good place to start researching information if you have erection problems. See a doctor immediately if you experience conditions, such as:

• You worry about having an erection or experiencing other sexual problems, including impotence, premature ejaculation, or late ejaculation.
• You have diabetes, heart disease, or other health conditions related to impotence.
• You have other symptoms along with impotence.

Causes of impotence

What are the causes of impotence?

Male sexual arousal is a fairly complex process. This is because it involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels.

The combination of physical and psychological causes is a major cause of impotence. For example, physical conditions slow down your sexual response, which can lead to anxiety about maintaining an erection.

Anxiety is what worsens erectile dysfunction so that it can cause impotence at a young age.

A healthy penis and normal erectile function can be affected by problems related to any of the following systems:

• Disorders that make blood flow lower or damage nerves in the penis
• Penile nerve damage can result from pelvic or abdominal surgery
• Hormonal disorders

Physical causes

Quite a number of cases of impotence are physically caused, including:

• Heart disease and narrowing of the blood vessels
• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Obesity and metabolic syndrome
• Parkinson's disease
• Hormonal disorders, including thyroid conditions and testosterone deficiency
• Structural or anatomical abnormalities of the penis, such as Peyronie's disease
• Treatments for prostate disease
• Surgical complications
• Injury to the pelvic area or spinal cord
• Radiation therapy to the pelvic area

Psychological causes

The brain has a major role in triggering an erection that starts from feeling sexual stimulation.

However, there are conditions when sexual feelings are disturbed, giving rise to impotence or erectile dysfunction.

The following are the things that are the psychological causes of impotence, namely:

• Feel guilty
• Stress
• Fear of intimacy
• Depression
• Severe anxiety
• Relationship problems with partners

Risk factors for impotence

What increases the risk of erectile dysfunction?

Increasing age can be another factor that makes it difficult for you to get an erection or pass semen.

There are various risk factors for erectile dysfunction, including:

• Medical conditions, especially diabetes or heart conditions.
• Tobacco consumption, which restricts blood flow to the veins and arteries.
• Being overweight or obese.
• Certain medical treatments, such as prostate surgery or radiation treatment for cancer.
• Injury, especially if it damages the nerves or blood vessels that control an erection.
• The influence of drugs, including antidepressants, antihistamines, and drugs to treat high blood pressure, pain, or prostate conditions.
• Psychological conditions, such as stress, anxiety, or depression.
• Drug and alcohol use.

Drugs & treatment of impotence

The information provided is not a substitute for medical advice. ALWAYS consult your doctor.

What are the treatment options for impotence?

In general, there are no major treatments or medications specifically for impotence. Treatment is carried out in accordance with the causes experienced.

In some cases, this condition cannot be cured but can still be overcome. Here are options for how to treat impotence or erectile dysfunction.

1. Drinking medicine

Your doctor may be able to prescribe drugs to treat impotence. Common medications include sildenafil (viagra), vardenafil (levitra, staxyn), tadalafil (Cialis), and avanafil (stendra).

If your general health is still good, your doctor may prescribe one of these medications.

All of the pills recommended work by increasing blood flow to the penis.

However, this cannot create an automatic erection. You may need to experiment to find out how quickly the pills react.

2. Testosterone hormone therapy

Testosterone hormone therapy is claimed to increase energy, mood, and increase sexual arousal.

However, this treatment is not recommended if hormone levels are normal, because it has other side effects.

3. Vacuum device

Another way to treat erectile dysfunction is to use a specially designed penis vacuum tube device.

This treatment is done by placing the penis into a tube connected to a pump.

This can cause blood to flow to the penis and make it bigger and firmer.

Please note that 75 out of 100 men can experience normal ejaculation after using this tool.

4. Other treatment

• Injection therapy, this treatment applies alprostadil to the side of the penis using a very fine needle
• Intraurethral therapy (IU), which is injecting into the body of the penis and urethra, which dilates the blood vessels in the penis.
• Surgical treatment, is a surgical treatment by performing penile implants.

In addition, doctors can also use psychological therapy to improve mental and emotional factors, if this is the cause of erectile dysfunction being experienced.

This treatment may take a long time to repair and it is necessary to use several methods to achieve the desired condition.

What are the common tests for the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction?

For most men, a physical examination and answering questions (medical history) are what doctors need to diagnose impotence in the first place.

In addition, there are several tests to determine the underlying conditions of impotence, such as:

• Blood tests, which are performed by taking a blood sample to check for signs of heart disease, diabetes, low testosterone levels, and other health conditions.
• Urine tests, like blood tests, urine tests are used to look for signs of diabetes and other underlying health conditions.
• Ultrasound (USG), this test usually produces pictures that will guide your doctor if you have blood flow problems.

Some of the above tests are sometimes also done in combination with injecting drugs into the penis to stimulate blood flow and produce an erection.

Erection test overnight

Most men experience erections during sleep without remembering them. This simple test involves a device that will measure the number and strength of erections achieved overnight.

This test can help determine whether your impotence or erectile dysfunction is due to a psychological or physical condition.

Psychological test

The doctor may ask some questions to detect depression and other psychological factors that cause erectile dysfunction.

Home remedies for impotence

What are some lifestyle changes or home remedies that can help treat impotence?

For most men, impotence or erectile dysfunction can be caused or made worse by lifestyle choices.

Some lifestyle changes that can be done to treat erectile dysfunction include:

• Quit smoking and tobacco consumption.
• Lose weight, because being overweight can lead to - or worsen - impotence.
• Regular exercise can reduce stress and increase blood flow in the body.
• Undergoing certain therapies, because consuming too much alcohol or using illegal drugs can worsen erectile dysfunction.
• Eat healthy foods, such as green vegetables, whole grains, fish and other seafood sources.
• Resolve relationship problems with your partner, for example by considering marriage counseling if you have difficulty improving communication.

If you have questions, consult further with your doctor for the best solution to your problem.