The inability to achieve the penile rigidity required for a healthy sexual relationship, or to maintain the rigidity once achieved, is defined as sexual impotence or difficulty achieving an erection. The erectile problem that leads to sexual dysfunction causes loss of libido, i.e. sexual desire. For the condition, called erectile dysfunction in medical language, to be diagnosed, the erectile problem must occur very frequently or continuously. Occasional erectile problems can be seen in almost every man over time.
Causes of Impotence
- A person's mood is very important for a healthy sex life. Causes stemming from the partner, or from work and financial circumstances, depression or distress, can prevent a healthy sexual relationship.
- Systemic conditions such as hypertension, cholesterol, diabetes and cardiovascular diseases can cause impotence.
- Alcohol dependence or diseases affecting the nervous system, spinal injuries and damage to the nerves important for erection during cancer surgery are among the causes of erectile failure in men.
- Sexual dysfunction is encountered in patients with chronic liver and chronic kidney disease.
- Hormonal causes such as an underactive or overactive thyroid gland and low testosterone are also causes of impotence.
- Smoking, some blood pressure medications and drugs that affect the person's hormone balance can also lead to sexual dysfunction.
- Obesity, which causes the level of fat in the blood to rise, is an important risk factor that can lead to impotence.
- Anatomical abnormalities such as a small penis, a urethral opening in a different location or penile curvature can create impotence.
Signs of Impotence
The signs of impotence are divided into two groups: psychological and physiological.
Signs of psychological impotence:
- Psychological impotence is a condition that appears suddenly. The person's sex life was previously healthy and they suddenly begin to experience impotence.
- There is a high stress factor in the individual's family, social and working life.
- There is no physical evidence that could cause impotence.
- The erectile problem varies with the situation: in some settings the person can have a normal erection, while in others they have problems.
- In individuals with psychological impotence, night-time and morning erections continue normally.
Signs of physiological impotence:
- In impotence that develops due to an organic disorder, the person's erectile problem shows itself gradually over a long period. There is an erection problem with a history of about 6 months.
- The person has health problems such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes and high cholesterol.
- The erectile problem does not vary with the situation or setting.
- Morning and night-time erections are either greatly reduced or absent.
Treatment of Impotence
As with all other diseases, the treatment of impotence is to remove the underlying problem. The physician examines the patient and decides which method to apply. If the cause of the decline in the person's sexual function is psychological, they can be referred to a specialist psychiatrist and informed about what needs to be done to regulate their sex life.
In the treatment of physical impotence, vacuum devices that help the penis achieve a natural erection can be used. Another highly effective method is erection-inducing injections into the penis. For those who do not want to use injections, drugs applied through the urethra or oral tablets can be recommended.
One of the most important causes of impotence is hormone insufficiency or deficiency. Supplementation with testosterone-containing medications can eliminate the erection problem. Surgical methods can be applied in the treatment of impotence that develops due to structural abnormalities of the penis. Finally, penile prostheses can be used against erectile failure.
