Male potency: uncovering the causes of disorders and effective treatment

A man's inability to have intercourse and/or difficulty maintaining an erection necessary to complete sexual act is a common problem called erectile dysfunction (ED).

Due to problems with potency, a male’s self-esteem and confidence decrease, and his psycho-emotional state worsens. But most representatives of the stronger sex still refuse to see a doctor because of fear or shame. And this later leads to further aggravation of the issue, since this dysfunction (or impotence) is not a separate independent disease. In most cases, impotence is a symptom or consequence of other pathologies.

What are the causes of weak potency?

Most cases of ED are secondary (this means that the potency was normal but later became impaired).

A person should consult a doctor if he experiences persistent issues with an erection, as the cause may be an underlying medical condition. Appropriate diagnosis and treatment will help not only to solve any underlying medical issues but also to overcome difficulties in sexual life.

The most common physical causes of erectile dysfunction are:

• heart diseases and narrowing of blood vessels;
• diabetes;
• hypertensive disease;
• high cholesterol;
• metabolic syndrome and obesity;
• Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis;
• hormonal disorders, including thyroid disease and testosterone deficiency;
• structural or anatomical pathologies of the penis, such as Peyronie’s disease;
• smoking, alcohol and drug abuse;
• curing diseases of the prostate gland;
• taking some medications can have a decrease in potency as a side effect;
• injuries in the area of the pelvis or spinal cord.

What does male potency depend on?

In addition to physical illnesses and disorders that might affect it, psychological factors are also important. Among such reasons can be distinguished:

• Emotional conditions such as fear, depression, anxiety and severe stress.
• Situational psychological problems that may be related to place, time, and partner.
• Overfatigue (both psycho-emotional and physical).

Although the likelihood of developing potency issues increases with age, age alone is not the cause of ED.

These disorders may also occur in young people. A 2013 study found that 1 in 4 males who first saw a doctor for erection disorder were under the age of 40. The researchers found a stronger link between smoking, drug use and erectile dysfunction in these men compared to older ones. This suggests that lifestyle is the most significant factor in the development of impotence in young people.

Impotence can be manifested by the following symptoms:

• persistent (not one-time) issues with erection (when a man is unable to perform sexual intercourse from the very beginning);
• repeated problems maintaining an erection until the end of the sex;
• complete or periodic absence of morning erections;
• decrease in sexual desire.

What treatment for improving potency in men is available today?

Curing of impotence begins with the health of the heart and blood vessels. Your doctor can point out risk factors that might be changed or improved.

Treatment of erectile dysfunction is possible at any age, and the choice of methods is currently wide: from pills or injections to penile prosthesis.

You may also be offered to work through emotional issues with a therapist that may be the result of conflict in your relationship or anxiety caused by past problems in bed. If a man thinks about the fact that the previous time it was not possible to have sexual intercourse, he worries, and as a result, nothing works again.

The following methods are aimed at the direct treatment of erectile dysfunction. Specialists try to use non-invasive ways first. Most of the well-known methods of treatment are effective and completely safe.

The primary non-invasive methods of treating impotence are the following:

• Oral medications or pills known as phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (e.g. Viagra, Cialis, Levitra).
• Testosterone therapy, used when a low testosterone level is detected in a blood test.
• Injections into the penis.
• Intraurethral drugs.
• Vacuum erection devices (pumps).

Invasive methods:

• Penile implants (penile prosthesis)
• Surgery may be recommended for young men with severe pelvic injuries. However, penile vascular surgery is not suitable for older people with already hardened arteries.

We do not recommend self-medication and buying drugs to cure this issue without a doctor’s prescription. Contact a specialist for help in the treatment of erectile dysfunction, and you will definitely be able to achieve a solution to this unpleasant problem in one way or another.