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Impotence
Medical Questions » Impotence
| Name: Impotence |
| Also known as: Erectile Failure |
| Lack of sexual potency. |
Causes of Impotence
A penis erection occurs as a reflex which is outside a man' s voluntary control. Failure may be due to inadequate levels of testosterone (male hormone), blocked arteries to the penis (eg. from diabetes, arteriosclerosis), abnormal penis anatomy, any form of anxiety, alcohol, anabolic steroids (used illegally to enhance performance and physique), high blood pressure medication and prostate surgery. The main cause is psychological pressure to perform (eg. anxiety about sex with a new partner, conditions that are not ideal). If a man has failed previously, then there is even more anxiety, and every successive failure makes him more anxious to perform and less likely to succeed. |
Symptoms of Impotence
Failure of a man to obtain or sustain an erection when sexually stimulated. |
Tests for Impotence
All specific causes need to be excluded by appropriate tests. |
Treatment for Impotence
Psychological factors may be overcome by not planning sex, but relaxing and waiting until the right circumstances occur spontaneously. Mutual heavy petting and erotic stimulation, but without the expectation of sex, sexual toys, pornography and vacuum pumps to create an erection may be used. Once spontaneous erections develop, sex may start again. Medication is also available:
1. alprostadil (Caverject) injections into the penis
2. alprostadil (Muse) pellets may be inserted into the urethra (urine tube in the penis)
3. sildenafil (Viagra) tablets.
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Complications of Impotence of its treatment
None. |
Likely Outcome of Impotence
Most men can be helped by treatment. |
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