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Dealing With Impotence
I Just Can't Get It Up!
By Joshua Levine, Askmen.com Health Correspondent
Dinner was delicious, kissing was malicious, her scent was inviting, and the foreplay was exciting. But when it came time to show her who the man was, the little soldier stayed in hiding.
There comes a time in a man's life where he must face up to the fact that his best friend will let him down. This is probably the time in a man's life where his self-esteem is most vulnerable.
Impotence
When just a single incident occurs, the best thing to do is forget about it. There is no reason for a man to worry about something that almost all men experience a few times in their lives.
Problems arise when this difficulty starts occurring regularly. Men afflicted with repeated impotence tend to be middle-aged and older, with a condition most common in men 60 years of age and older. Regardless of the age, many men who have this problem can be treated successfully.
Causes of dysfunction
Impotence results from a wide variety of problems. As with any other ailment, when a person begins having this problem repeatedly, he needs to see a doctor. The doctor will want to rule out the possibility of disease, injury, or side effects from medicine.
There are two basic causes of impotence:
- Effects related to physically related diseases (Drugs and Diabetes).
- Psychological
It is estimated that 50-60% of diabetic men have erectile dysfunction. For diabetics, attention must be paid to a diabetic neuropathy - the loss of vibratory sensations of the lower extremities.
Bladder dysfunction is correlated with erectile dysfunction. Parkinson's disease and temporal lobe abnormalities are contributing factors too. Men suffering from stroke and alcoholism are at very high risk because of damage to the testicles in chronic alcoholism and the loss of testosterone.
Aging is a tremendous factor in erectile dysfunction, often related to a decrease in male hormones. Chronic renal insufficiency is another potential cause. Many drugs used to treat high blood pressure that comes with chronic renal insufficiency can cause erectile dysfunction, and many drugs by themselves cause it.
Recreational drugs are a major cause of erection problems. The number one drug is tobacco. Experiments show that even two cigarettes will markedly decrease the blood flow to the penis if smoked before sex. Marijuana and alcohol are also big causes of erection problems. Prescription drugs are also a big culprit, especially those used for treatment of high blood pressure. The major problem drugs include:
- Estrogen: for men with prostate cancer.
- Antiandrogens (flutamide): for men with prostate cancer.
- Lupron: prostate cancer drug.
- Proscar: for men with enlarged prostates, can decrease the volume of ejaculate.
- Diuretics: for men with heart disease and hypertension.
- Methyldopa: older treatment for blood pressure.
- Beta blockers: for heart disease and hypertension.
- Calcium Channel Blockers: new treatments for hypertension.
- Tranquilizers.
- Decongestants.
- Seizure Medications.
- Drugs to lower Cholesterol.
- Cimetidine: a drug for ulcers.
- Digoxin- a drug for heart failure.
Note: DO NOT DISCONTINUE use of prescription drugs without first verifying with your doctor.
Treatment options
Today's medical advancements have allowed successful treatments of impotence through a variety of alternatives. A man and his partner no longer have to deal with the void of sexual displeasures. A man that suffers from repetitive erection loss should consult a specialist.
In general, the specialist will conduct a physical examination and laboratory investigation. This will allow him to get a good handle on the diagnosis, at which point he will proceed to explore the various treatment options. The question is how should a man with erectile dysfunction be treated in an era of vacuum pumps, penile injections, medications and prostheses? You should consult your doctor for advice on which treatment is best for you.
The treatment options should be specific towards the patient, his partner, and what he wants to do about it. There are a couple of factors that are considered when recommending a treatment. Some of them are:
- The patient's age.
- The total health status.
- Does the patient have good functioning of his lower and upper extremities?
- Does this patient have numerous sexual partners?
- Is the patient's partner involved in the decision making process?
- What are the goals of the therapy?
Finding a specialist
The best way to find an impotence specialist is to look for a board certified Urologist with an interest or additional training in impotence. Usually, after identifying a Urologist in your area, a call to the office will help you decide if the physician has the interest and compassion to treat the problem.
It is important that you feel comfortable and trust your Urologist, so don't be intimidated to ask to speak to the doctor to see if the "fit" is right. Always ask about credentials and if the physician regularly attends conferences to keep up on the changes. Usually, a physician who is involved in clinical research is on the cutting edge. Here are a couple of resources:
- (Readers in the USA can call) Impotence Anonymous and I-ANON. Call 1-800-669-1603 for information on local support groups. Call 1-800-867-7042 for names of physicians in your area who have a special interest in treating impotence.
- In general, the local hospital or clinic will have a listing of the support groups that can best provide the right sources to help the individual suffering from impotence.
a little tip...
If your woman gives you the third degree for your erectile dysfunction, play reverse psychology and ask her, "Why can't you get it up for me?". Switching the roles will allow her to understand how it feels to have her self-esteem attacked. Don't be condescending in the process, but let her understand how you feel.