Causes of Impotence

Impotence or Erectile Dysfunction:

Sexual performance greatly affects the quality of family life and intimate relationships. Sexual arousal is the result of brain signals transmitted to the nerves in the pelvis region. Impotence or erectile dysfunction is a condition in which a male finds it consistently difficult to develop an erection, even in the presence of sufficient mental and physical arousal. This condition arises due to a number of reasons, some of the most common being cardiovascular diseases, hormonal insufficiency, diabetes, prostatectomy surgery trauma, and even the side effects of certain drugs.

Impotence can also be triggered by relational or psychological problems. Psychological impotence is the result of a mental or psychological impact caused due to surfacing thoughts. This condition is commonly treated with the help of the placebo effect. Psychological impotence is also treated with the help of PDE5 inhibitor drugs like viagra and sildenafil. Today, there are a number of treatment options available to address the physical inability and the trauma. Some of them include:

• Prostaglandin tablets.
• Intracavernous injections.
• Penile prosthesis.
• Vascular reconstructive surgery.

Causes of Impotence:

Erectile dysfunction or impotence is characterized by lack of nocturnal erections, erections that are lost before or during penetration and/or decreased testosterone levels. Penile erection is the response to reflex and psychogenic stimuli. The peripheral nerves and the lumbar region are part of an intact neural system that generates an erection. Stimulation of this system leads to nitric oxide secretion, relaxation of the corpora cavernosa muscles and the maintenance of adequate testosterone levels.

Impotence can develop due to:

• Hormonal deficiency.
• Insufficient penile blood supply.
• Psychological problems.
• Restricted blood flow due to impaired endothelial function.
• Neurogenic disorders like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or multiple sclerosis.
• Arterial disorders such as hypertension and peripheral vascular disease.
• Cavernosal disorders such as Peyronie's disease.
• Mental disorders such as schizophrenia, substance abuse and anxiety disorder.
• Surgery related trauma.
• Aging.
• Lifestyle low-downs like alcohol abuse, obesity and cigarette smoking.
• Iatrogenic reasons like the intake of antihypertensives and drugs administered to treat the central nervous system.

Diagnosis and Treatment:

Impotence or erectile dysfunction is also triggered by inhibited sexual desire and guilt. There is no fixed diagnostic path to confirm or route out impotence. Doctors depend on blood tests to confirm or exclude hypogonadism, diabetes and prolactinoma. Medical intervention is an important part of the diagnosis to identify poor physical health, dietary habits, cardiovascular diseases and distinguish between psychological and physiological dysfunction. Doctors also resort to duplex ultrasound, bulbocavernosus reflex tests, nocturnal penile tumescence, penile biothesiometry and dynamic infusion cavernosometry, to stage and understand the underlying causes behind erectile dysfunction or impotence. The treatment options resorted to depend largely on the diagnosed cause. They include the administration of testosterone supplements, penile suppositories, aerobic exercises and PDE5 inhibitors.