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Symptoms of impotent man: Erectile dysfunction – Symptoms and causes

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Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction

What are the symptoms of erectile dysfunction?

Symptoms of ED include

  • being able to get an erection sometimes, but not every time you want to have sex
  • being able to get an erection, but not having it last long enough for sex
  • being unable to get an erection at any time

ED is often a symptom of another health problem or health-related factor.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is often a symptom of another health problem.

What causes erectile dysfunction?

Many different factors affecting your vascular system, nervous system, and endocrine system can cause or contribute to ED.

Although you are more likely to develop ED as you age, aging does not cause ED. ED can be treated at any age.

Certain diseases and conditions

The following diseases and conditions can lead to ED:

  • type 2 diabetes
  • heart and blood vessel disease
  • atherosclerosis
  • high blood pressure
  • chronic kidney disease
  • multiple sclerosis
  • Peyronie’s disease
  • injury from treatments for prostate cancer, including radiation therapy and prostate surgery
  • injury to the penis, spinal cord, prostate, bladder, or pelvis
  • surgery for bladder cancer

Men who have diabetes are two to three times more likely to develop ED than men who do not have diabetes. Read more about diabetes and sexual and urologic problems.

Taking certain medicines

ED can be a side effect of many common medicines, such as

  • blood pressure medicines
  • antiandrogens—medicines used for prostate cancer therapy
  • antidepressants
  • tranquilizers, or prescription sedatives—medicines that make you calmer or sleepy
  • appetite suppressants, or medicines that make you less hungry
  • ulcer medicines

View a list of specific medicines that may cause ED.

Certain psychological or emotional issues

Psychological or emotional factors may make ED worse. You may develop ED if you have one or more of the following:

  • fear of sexual failure
  • anxiety
  • depression
  • guilt about sexual performance or certain sexual activities
  • low self-esteem
  • stress—about sexual performance, or stress in your life in general

Certain health-related factors and behaviors

The following health-related factors and behaviors may contribute to ED:

  • smoking
  • drinking too much alcohol
  • using illegal drugs
  • being overweight
  • not being physically active

Last Reviewed July 2017



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This content is provided as a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
(NIDDK), part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIDDK translates and disseminates research findings to increase knowledge and understanding about health and disease among patients, health professionals, and the public. Content produced by the NIDDK is carefully reviewed by NIDDK scientists and other experts.

The NIDDK would like to thank:
Tom Lue, M.D., University of California San Francisco


5 Common Causes of Impotence: Diseases, Medications & More

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Impotence occurs when you’re unable to achieve an erection, maintain an erection, or ejaculate on a consistent basis. It’s used interchangeably with ED. Several factors can contribute to the condition, including both emotional and physical disorders.

According to the Urology Care Foundation, an estimated 30 million Americans experience ED.

A 2007 study published in the American Journal of Medicine noted the risk of impotence increases with age. Research suggests it’s even higher in men who have also been diagnosed with one or more cardiovascular risk factors.

Impotence can often have a negative effect on your sex life, and it can also cause depression, additional stress, and low self-esteem.

A common misconception about erectile dysfunction is that you cannot achieve an erection at all. This is not always the case. Erectile dysfunction can also include symptoms like:

  • being unable to achieve an erection
  • inconsistently being able to achieve an erection each time you have a sexual encounter
  • not being able to maintain an erection for the entire sexual encounter

Impotence can begin to affect your quality of life and relationships with your sexual partners over time. However, there are several treatment options available for many of the root causes of ED.

If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, consider talking with your doctor about what might be causing your ED and what treatment options might be best for you.

Understanding the most frequently diagnosed potential causes can help you identify why you may be experiencing the condition. Here are five common causes of impotence:

1. Endocrine diseases

The body’s endocrine system produces hormones that regulate metabolism, sexual function, reproduction, mood, and much more.

Diabetes is an example of an endocrine disease that can cause you to experience impotence. Diabetes affects the body’s ability to use the hormone insulin.

One of the complications associated with chronic diabetes is nerve damage. This affects penis sensations. Other complications associated with diabetes include impaired blood flow and hormone levels. Both of these factors can contribute to impotence.

2. Neurological and nerve disorders

Several neurologic conditions can increase the risk for impotence. Nerve conditions affect the brain’s ability to communicate with the reproductive system. This can prevent you from achieving an erection.

Neurological disorders associated with impotence include:

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • brain or spinal tumors
  • multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • stroke
  • temporal lobe epilepsy

If you’ve had prostate surgery, you can also experience nerve damage, resulting in impotence.

Long-distance bicycle riders can experience temporary impotence. Repeated pressure on the buttocks and genitals can affect nerve function.

3. Taking medications

Taking certain medications can affect blood flow, which can lead to ED. You should never stop taking a medication without your doctor’s permission, even if it’s known to cause impotence.

Examples of medications known to cause impotence include:

  • alpha-adrenergic blockers, including tamsulosin (Flomax)
  • antihistamines, such as cimetidine (Tagamet)
  • beta-blockers, such as carvedilol (Coreg) and metoprolol (Lopressor)
  • chemotherapy medications
  • central nervous system (CNS) depressants, such as alprazolam (Xanax), diazepam (Valium), and codeine
  • CNS stimulants, such as cocaine and amphetamines
  • diuretics, such as furosemide (Lasix) and spironolactone (Aldactone)
  • selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine (Prozac) and paroxetine (Paxil)
  • synthetic hormones, including leuprolide (Eligard)

4.

Cardiac-related conditions

Conditions that affect the heart and its ability to pump blood well can cause impotence. Without enough blood flow to the penis, you cannot achieve an erection.

Atherosclerosis, a condition that causes blood vessels to become clogged, can cause impotence. High cholesterol and high blood pressure (hypertension) are also associated with an increased risk for impotence.

5. Lifestyle factors and emotional disorders

To achieve an erection, you must first go through what’s known as an excitement phase. This phase can be an emotional response. If you have an emotional disorder, it can affect your ability to become sexually excited.

Depression and anxiety are associated with an increased risk for impotence. Depression is a feeling of sadness, loss of hope, or helplessness. Fatigue-related to depression can also cause impotence.

Performance anxiety can also cause impotence. If you haven’t been able to achieve an erection in the past, you may fear you won’t be able to achieve an erection in the future.

You may find that you cannot achieve an erection with a certain partner. If you’ve been diagnosed with ED related to performance anxiety, you may be able to have full erections when masturbating or when sleeping, but unable to maintain an erection during intercourse.

Substance use disorder involving drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can also cause impotence. Alcohol misuse or alcohol use disorder (AUD) can affect your ability to achieve or maintain an erection as well. See your doctor if you suspect that you may have a substance use problem.

Treatments are available for impotence, including medical interventions, natural remedies, and lifestyle changes.

Medical interventions

There are a variety of medical interventions that can be used to treat impotence. Prescription treatments for impotence include:

  • alprostadil (Caverject, Edex, MUSE), which is available as an injection or as a suppository
  • avanafil (Stendra)
  • sildenafil (Viagra)
  • tadalafil (Cialis)
  • vardenafil (Staxyn, Levitra)
  • testosterone replacement therapy (TRT)

You may also want to consider vascular surgery (to improve blood flow in the penis) or penile implant surgery.

Find Roman ED medication online.

Natural remedies

If you want to avoid prescription medication, there are a variety of natural remedies known to help treat impotence. It’s important to note that the efficacy of these alternative remedies is not always tested or verified by the FDA so you may not see the advertised results of these products. Before you use any natural remedies, make sure you consult your doctor first.

Some alternative remedies for impotence include:

  • acupuncture
  • Korean red ginseng, which is also known as Panax ginseng
  • pomegranate juice
  • yohimbe

Penis pumps

Penis pumps are another option if you’re looking for noninvasive, nondrug treatments. They may be most effective if you have moderate ED.

Lifestyle changes

Whether your impotence has a physical or an emotional cause, there are many cases where lifestyle changes can reduce problems with ED.

According to an article in the Journal of Restorative Medicine, examples of these lifestyle and behavioral changes include:

  • quitting smoking if you smoke
  • drinking alcohol in moderation
  • practicing supportive communication in a romantic relationship
  • exercising
  • eating a well-balanced, nutritious diet
  • reducing anxiety

You may also want to consider meeting with a mental health professional if you feel your ED is due to psychological causes.

Naturally increasing blood flow to the penis often requires a combination of lifestyle changes. Here are a few changes that you can consider trying:

  • If you smoke, consider quitting. Smoking can affect your blood flow and worsen erectile dysfunction.
  • Engage in regular physical activity. Exercise can help improve blood flow in your entire body and aid in maintaining a moderate weight, which also may reduce erectile dysfunction.
  • Try to choose heart-healthy foods. These include low sodium and low fat foods.
  • Consider seeing a physical therapist who specializes in pelvic floor physical therapy. It’s important to start these exercises under the advice of a therapist as appropriately performed exercises can help erectile dysfunction, but inappropriately performed exercises can be problematic.

However, it’s important to remember that some causes of decreased blood flow require medical treatments. If you try techniques at home to increase blood flow to your penis yet still experience erectile dysfunction, it’s worthwhile to seek out medical attention.

Impotence has a variety of causes. However, there are still measures you can take to help prevent it.

Possible prevention methods include:

  • exercising, which decreases the risk for impotence
  • avoiding smoking, drugs, or alcohol abuse
  • getting enough sleep
  • following a healthy diet
  • reducing stress, anxiety, and depression

IMPOTENCE AND AGE

Although aging is often associated with erectile dysfunction (ED), growing older is not necessarily one of the biggest contributing causes of impotence. ED is not considered a natural part of aging. Aging is just a risk factor. Some men never experience impotence.

While erectile dysfunction is commonly tied to aging, it is not an inevitable part of the aging process. Many people have been able to treat the condition, regardless of their age.

If you experience problems achieving or maintaining an erection, consider talking with a doctor. Both primary care professionals and urologists can help you create a treatment plan for erectile dysfunction. However, if your condition is related to an underlying medical condition, they may refer you to a specialist.

It’s completely understandable if you feel self-conscious about speaking with a doctor about erectile dysfunction.

However, it’s important to keep in mind that sexual health is an important part of your overall health and how you feel about yourself.

It’s important that you are able to talk with healthcare professionals openly and honestly about your symptoms and to get help for any underlying medical conditions.

How long can the average person with a penis stay erect?

There is not a specific answer for how long the average person with a penis can stay erect. What matters is if you are unable to maintain an erection for a long enough time to have satisfying sexual intercourse.

There is also an alternative where the penis stays erect for too long, a condition known as priapism. If your erection exceeds 4 hours, you should seek emergency medical attention.

What causes erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by impaired blood flow, problems with the nerves in and around the penis, or nervous system changes that may affect sexual desire.

Sometimes, erectile dysfunction can occur as a side effect of taking some medications, including:

  • antidepressants
  • anxiolytics
  • muscle relaxants
  • diuretics
  • antihypertensives

What is the main cause of impotence?

For older people experiencing impotence, an estimated 70 to 80 percent of cases are related to a physical issue that affects blood flow to the penis.

In some instances, erectile dysfunction can be one of the earliest signs of blood flow problems in the body. Because erectile dysfunction can potentially signal underlying medical conditions like cardiovascular disease, it’s important to talk with your doctor if you experience ED or impotence for several weeks.

Can impotence be cured?

If the underlying cause of impotence is treatable, impotence can be cured.

Treatment can include:

  • taking medications to improve blood flow
  • participating in talk therapy
  • changing medications that may contribute to impotence

Medications, such as sildenafil (Viagra) or tadalafil (Cialis) can also help to improve erectile dysfunction symptoms. However, it should be kept in mind that not all causes will have cures, and it may take time for a doctor to properly diagnose your specific issue.

Impotence can change your life and affect your self-esteem.

Though ED can have a negative effect on your sex life, it’s ultimately a treatable condition. Many interventions exist that can help you regain your sexual function, including natural remedies, medications, and lifestyle changes.

Because impotence can signal an underlying health problem, it’s important to make an appointment with a doctor if it becomes a consistent problem, even if you think it’s just stress.

Signs of impotence in men – prices for treatment in Moscow “Medline-Service”

Every man should know how impotence manifests itself in order to identify the problem in time and start treatment. The disease develops gradually and in the initial stages may not cause concern to the patient. But over time, the characteristic symptoms of impotence in men become more pronounced, bring a lot of discomfort, negatively affecting sexual life. It is important to remember that in the initial stages, impotence is successfully and quickly treated conservatively, and the risk of complications is minimal.

Treatment of impotence at the first sign

The first signs of impotence in men often appear at an older age, but modern young people have become more likely to encounter the disease, as they do not take care of their health, abuse bad habits, lead an inactive lifestyle, and do not have full-fledged sexual relationships. All these factors negatively affect erectile function, causing its decline.

The initial stage of impotence, the symptoms of which are not very pronounced, is primarily manifested by the lack of erection with full excitement. Other signs that should make a man alert and make an appointment with a doctor:

  • weak erection not enough for sex;
  • loss of erection during intercourse;
  • premature ejaculation;
  • absence or prolongation of sexual arousal;
  • loss of nocturnal erection.

Over time, the symptoms of the pathology will worsen. Consequences of impotence: infertility, stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, problems in family relationships. To avoid complications, at the first symptoms of erectile dysfunction, you need to make an appointment with a urologist.

Treatment depends on the cause of the disease, the age of the man, the condition of other organs. If the nature of impotence is organic, conservative or surgical treatment is prescribed. The scheme of drug therapy includes drugs that contribute to short-term stimulation of erection, as well as systemic agents. Possible destination options:

  • testosterone hormone replacement therapy;
  • selective PDE5 inhibitors;
  • agents that affect cavernous tissue and have a vasodilating effect;
  • the use of drugs of plant and animal origin, eliminating erectile dysfunction.

If conservative methods of impotence correction do not bring the desired result, the doctor suggests the patient to resort to surgical techniques. Common operating procedures:

  • use of vacuum devices to increase circulation;
  • implantation of a plastic or hydraulic prosthesis into the penis;
  • vascular bypass.

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Cost of impotence treatment

The cost of impotence treatment is calculated individually, taking into account the etiology of the disease, the nature of its course, and the presence of complications. To get a detailed consultation and find out the current prices for services at the Medline-Service clinic, call the phone number +7 (495) 125-23-71 or fill out the feedback form.

Impotence (erectile dysfunction) – causes, symptoms, signs, age, diagnosis, treatment, prevention and prevention

Impotence is a form of erectile dysfunction in which a man has no erection at all.

Some time ago it was believed that up to 90% of all disorders are associated with psychogenic factors. New studies have shown that in most cases, the inability to perform a full-fledged sexual intercourse is due to various organic diseases, and only a small part of them is due to a psychogenic factor. Some causes of the disease can be eliminated, and some are so neglected that no treatment can return a person to the possibility of a normal erection.

Male impotence is a term that is considered obsolete. In modern medical literature, it is used very rarely. He was replaced by a new word – erectile dysfunction, and impotence will be the most severe manifestation of this pathology. According to statistics, this disorder affects 15 million men worldwide, whose age has passed over 40 years.

Causes and triggers of impotence

Finding the causes of impotence is quite difficult. It is noted that this type of erectile dysfunction often occurs in patients who suffer from stomach ulcers and angina pectoris, since all these diseases can appear due to traumatic effects on the human psyche.

Other causes include:

  • pelvic and spinal injuries;
  • degenerative-dystrophic diseases of the spine and spinal cord;
  • disorders in the hypothalamic-pituitary system;
  • diseases of the liver and kidneys;
  • bowel disease;
  • vascular disorders;
  • smoking;
  • drug use;
  • alcoholism.

Psychogenic impotence can develop at any age and be permanent or temporary. The main reason is mental or physical overwork. Neurogenic develops against the background of injuries and diseases of the brain or spinal cord. Arteriogenic occurs due to violations of the patency of blood vessels, which happens against the background of atherosclerosis. Hormonal is associated with diabetes and other diseases that have a negative impact on the hormonal background.

As for prostatitis, it does not cause impotence, but it can significantly aggravate the course of the disease.

Symptoms of impotence

There is no consensus on the age at which impotence most often occurs. It can appear in young men, and in those who have reached middle age, and in the elderly. Symptoms of psychogenic and organic impotence are somewhat different.

Psychogenic develops absolutely suddenly, appears from time to time and everything depends on the specific situation. The main reason is stress or another mental disorder. An erection that appears at night or in the morning is preserved. Also, during intercourse, the normal tension of the penis is maintained. During masturbation, no visible disturbances occur.

Organic impotence develops gradually. It progresses, although it happens slowly, and persists throughout life if not treated. The main reason is a disease of the internal organs or the intake of certain drugs that adversely affect erection. A man does not have a night or morning erection, moreover, it can completely disappear during intercourse. Masturbation cannot change the existing situation in any way.

Additional signs of impotence may look like this:

  • lack of sexual desire;
  • general weakness and fatigue;
  • the presence of additional symptoms depending on the affected organ;
  • increased body temperature;
  • premature ejaculation;
  • sexual intercourse is performed no more than once a week, and sometimes even less often.

Many are interested in the question – at what age does impotence develop. In young men, its main cause is diseases of the pelvic organs and back injuries, which lead to disability. This can happen at any age. In men after 40 years, organic diseases become the main causes.

If erection problems occur only occasionally and under certain circumstances, for example, during severe fatigue or during illness, this cannot be considered the beginning of the development of impotence. It is important to pay attention to such a fact as the presence of a spontaneous morning erection. If it is, then the man should not have any fears.

It is also noted that in men over the age of 40, the first symptoms of erectile dysfunction occur 5, maximum 7 years before the development of a heart attack or stroke.

Complications of impotence

The inability to have a full-fledged sexual intercourse leads to a violation of normal family relations, which often becomes the reason for divorce. Men with such difficulties may also have problems in relationships with the opposite sex, with the conception of a child. All this significantly reduces self-esteem and leads to depression, neurosis, aggressiveness. In severe cases, a person runs the risk of committing suicide.

The general health of a person is also significantly deteriorating. Constant stress reduces the defenses, which causes the development of all kinds of diseases. Against this background, gastritis, ulcers, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, bronchitis and pneumonia often develop, and these diseases further inhibit potency, making a person completely unable to have a full-fledged sexual intercourse.

Impotence diagnostics

The treatment and diagnosis of impotence is carried out by a urologist or an andrologist. However, to make an accurate diagnosis and find out the causes of erectile dysfunction, consultations with other doctors are often required – a cardiologist, gastroenterologist, oncologist, neuropathologist, neurosurgeon.

Diagnosis of impotence begins with a questioning of the patient, taking anamnesis and his complaints. The doctor can measure pressure and temperature, examine the penis and palpate it. If necessary, tests are prescribed – blood, urine, secretion of the sex glands, hormones. A procedure for the presence of latent infections is also required. In the diagnosis, ultrasound, urethrography, ureteroscopy can be used. Help in identifying the causes of diseases CT, MRI and radiography. They can show the doctor where the pathological areas are, whether there are diseases of the brain or spinal cord, what condition the glands are in.

It is important to see a doctor as soon as possible, and not wait until impotence begins to affect life too negatively. At the initial stage of his development and with a good diagnosis, a man can return to his usual way of life again without experiencing problems during intercourse.

Impotence treatment

Treatment begins with identifying and eliminating the causes that caused this unpleasant phenomenon.

Today, all impotence remedies used can be divided into several groups:

  • etiotropic, which cope with the cause of the disease;
  • pathogenetic, affecting the immediate cause of the disease;
  • symptomatic, allowing to eliminate symptoms;
  • immunostimulating.

Impotence pills can only be prescribed by a doctor. On his advice, you can buy Trazodone, Trimipramine, Cialis, Levitra, Viagra in a pharmacy. But not always a cure for impotence is able to cope with the problem, especially if the pathology is caused by a psychological factor. Therefore, it is important to connect sessions with a psychotherapist to treatment.

If conservative therapy fails, extreme erectile dysfunction should be treated surgically. Extracavernous penile prosthesis is one of the ways to correct the situation. However, due to technical difficulties, this type of operation is rarely performed.

Intracavernous penile prosthesis is a method that helps to achieve imitation of an erection for the last 20 years. But the choice of one or another method of treatment always remains with the doctor.

Prognosis and prevention of impotence

Without proper and timely treatment, the prognosis will always be unfavorable. As a prevention of impotence, it is recommended to avoid sexually transmitted diseases and diseases of the urinary system, hypothermia, walk more often, swim and run, stop smoking and drinking alcohol.

Nutrition should be balanced and appropriate for age, and after 50 years, blood pressure levels should be checked every month and cholesterol tests should be taken every 6 months.

Sleep should be at least 8 hours a day, and exercises should be done every day to improve blood circulation.

Author of the article:

Zavalishin Evgeny Vitalievich

urologist, specialist in ultrasound of the genitourinary system

work experience 10 years

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