Impotence – the dreaded enemy of men
Impotence is undoubtedly one of those conditions men would like to avoid as much as possible during their lives; nevertheless, medical surveys show that today every second man over the age of 30 struggles with erectile problems. What can lie behind sexual dysfunction, how can it be prevented, and if it has already appeared — how can this problem be treated?
Definition of erectile dysfunction and impotence
The penis is composed along its full length of a highly expandable, elastic, sponge-like tissue. During sexual arousal, blood flows into these tissues, which expand the spongy structures. When the "sponge" is filled with blood, an erection occurs, i.e. the stiffening of the penis.
We speak of erectile dysfunction when, despite adequate libido (sexual desire), sufficient penile rigidity does not develop, or rigidity does occur but its degree and/or duration are reduced.
If erectile insufficiency not only hinders intercourse but actually makes it impossible, it is referred to as impotence (inability to copulate).
Causes of erectile dysfunction
Sexual dysfunction is most common in the over-65 age group, but it can practically arise at any age. Depending on the triggering causes, impotence can be temporary or chronic. (It is important to note that temporary problems can occur in anyone regardless of age — occasional, infrequent occurrences are not considered pathological.) Both physical and non-physical factors can play a role in the development of the disease.
Non-physical causes
- psychological problems, such as stress, anxiety or fatigue;
- negative feelings toward or from the sexual partner, for example indifference or rejection.
Physical causes of impotence may include
- diabetes,
- hypertension,
- cardiovascular (heart and vascular) diseases,
- high blood lipid (cholesterol/triglyceride) levels,
- side effects of some prescription medications (blood pressure-lowering drugs, anti-arrhythmic drugs, lipid-lowering agents, anti-inflammatories, antidepressants),
- prostate disease and the state after prostate surgery,
- penile blood supply disorders,
- heart attack, stroke,
- an accident causing spinal cord injury,
- multiple sclerosis, depression and other mental disorders,
- hormonal disorders, and
- alcoholism, drug use.
The problem can be prevented!
A basic truth regarding the male body is that what harms the heart certainly does not help the erection either. In this light, conscious nutrition is important, because an unhealthy diet also affects your circulatory system.
Proper body weight also plays a significant role in erections. One common problem among the obese is diabetes. One of the most serious complications of diabetes is nerve degeneration, which can worsen erectile function (as well).
High blood pressure and cholesterol also affect the arteries responsible for the blood supply to the penis, so it is worth paying attention to these values.
Exercise plays a major role in prevention, especially strengthening the cardiovascular system. Running, jogging, but even regular walking, swimming and gentle cycling are such activities. They strengthen your circulation, "exercise" and keep your vessels healthy.
Testosterone is responsible for sexual desire and erection as well, so a decrease in this hormone's level can lead to deterioration of these functions.
Treatment of erectile dysfunction
There are several solutions available against erectile dysfunction; the choice between methods should be weighed according to the severity of the condition and the underlying cause:
- psychological support, aimed at resolving psychogenic problems (e.g. stress, self-esteem issues, etc.),
- medications that treat the underlying disease (diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, etc.),
- medications that directly induce an erection (Attention! The "blue pill" can be dangerous in certain conditions!),
- surgically implanted (inflatable) devices implanted into the penis,
- vacuum devices that produce an erection mechanically from the outside.
If you are wary of drug side effects or the somewhat uncertain outcomes of penile surgeries, I recommend the completely harmless yet effective mechanical devices.
For example, the Medintim manual erection support kit or its more modern version, the Medintim active erection support kit.
These devices create a vacuum inside a tube-like apparatus placed over the penis. Due to the vacuum, an erection occurs in a short time, about one to one and a half minutes. At that point, a rubber ring must be "snapped" onto the base of the penis, which prevents the loss of the erection (i.e. prevents the blood from leaving the penis). The erection can be maintained safely for a long time.
The time required to achieve an erection is short, so it does not jeopardize the intimacy of the encounter or the maintenance of libido. Vacuum devices are completely safe; you can confidently use them in the fight against erectile dysfunction even if other drugs for potency enhancement cannot be used due to other illnesses (heart disease, high blood pressure, etc.).
