Thursday, June 20, 2013

IMPOTENCE & ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

Impotence refers to a man’s absolute inability to obtain a penile erection even after proper stimulation. If the condition is not absolute, i.e.; either erections are not complete or there is an inability to maintain them long enough, then the condition in general is called ‘penile dysfunction’.

Erectile dysfunction is an inability to achieve or maintain an erection, making intercourse difficult or impossible. The cause may be primary but is more often secondary, the incidence increases steeply with age. The sexual excitement is controlled by the brain and not by the Penis.

Because an erection requires a precise sequence of events, ED can occur when any of the events is disrupted. The sequence includes nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, and area around the penis, and response in muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries in and near the corpora cavernosa.

Impotence, Erectile Dysfunction –
CAUSE :- In majority of cases psychological reasons are implicated.
Vascular disease involving internal pudendal artery is thought to be one of the reasons for age related impotency. A nerve injury or spinal cord injury may result in impotence. Impotence may be an early symptom of diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis, tabes dorsalis etc.

Major Causes:
Stress, anxiety, worry, excessive work load, acute illness, low self-esteem, fear of sexual failure, guilt of sexual excesses, mental and emotional compatibility and relationship issues etc
Neuropathy e.g. diabetes mellitus, multiple sclerosis
Vascular disease (most common cause of erectile dysfunction in middle aged and elderly men
Abnormal veins draining the penis (can cause primary erectile failure)
Nerve damage (through injury or pelvic surgery)
Local penile deformities
Tobacco, alcohol intake
Drugs (certain antidepressants, anti-convulsants etc)
Psychological factors can cause, perpetuate and complicate erectile dysfunction like guilt. Performance anxiety due to life events, stress, organic factors or relationships factors leads to initial failure, doubt of worry followed by “spectatoringa’ in which self-critical monitoring of the body’s performance leads to repeated failure, such that the situation becomes chronic.

Impotence, Erectile Dysfunction – SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS
Inability to get an erection is usually the only complaint. In cases of penile dysfunction, premature ejaculation and spermatorrhoea may be found. Depression often accompanies impotence. Severe depression can lead to impotence and impotence can lead to depression. It works both ways.

A psycho-social examination, using an interview and a questionnaire, can reveal psychological factors. A man’s sexual partner may also be interviewed to determine expectations and perceptions during sexual intercourse.

Exercise daily - it increases the level of male hormones, increases the level of certain neuro hormones, which result in mood elevation and it increases the peripheral blood circulation.

Surrogate Sex Therapy, Kegel exercises and deep Healing of the Mind/Body may help restore performance levels after medical and psychological intervention is over.