 Impotence or erectile dysfunction is a condition where a man finds it difficult or in some cases impossible to obtain or keep and erection to such and extend that it affects his ability to have intercourse or masturbate. According to NHS statistics an estimated 1 out of 10 men have to deal with chronic erection problems at some stage or another in their lives.
What causes Impotence?
There are numerous reasons for erectile dysfunction and most men experience it from time to time due to stress, fatigue, confidence issues or too much alcohol. However, there are situations where impotence doesn’t just happen sporadically and it could influence quality of life. There is absolutely no reason for you to feel ashamed, as there can be numerous causes:
Physical causes
- Anti-depressants and medications for treating hypertension
- Regular alcohol abuse, smoking, and illegal substance abuse
- Conditions that affect blood circulation and the nervous system
- Diabetes
- Conditions that affect the proper function of the blood vessels
- Hormone related issues
- Conditions that might affect the tissues involved in an erection, such as prostate cancer
- Conditions such as kidney or liver failure
- Heart disease
Psychological causes
Stress or anxiety, depression, and relationship or sexual identity issues.
Treatments
According to studies there is a direct symbiosis between impotence and general confidence for some men. This is understandable to some extend as male masculinity is still closely associated with virility. Sad considering that we would like to think that our society has evolved to at least some level where we could dispose of archaic ideas of what a man is supposed to represent. With that said though, one has to argue that everybody is entitled to a natural healthy sex life, and nobody should be denied that.
Over the last ten years there has been significant development with regards to impotence treatments. The most revolutionary being the introduction of Viagra by Phizer in 1998. This signified the dawn of a new age for men suffering from impotence. The male species was at last freed from centuries of quiet frustration.
Viagra paved the way for a whole new range of medicines known as the Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors. Not long after the world was introduced to Viagra, other medications that work in the same way followed like Cialis and Levitra. To understand how these medications work you have to look at how an erection works.
How does an erection work?
Soon after arousal the brain sends a message to the vascular system which causes increased blood flow to the penis. The muscles in the penis relax in order to allow the influx of blood to fill the spongy tissue (corpus spongiosum) in the corpus cavernosa of the penis causing an erection. The increased pressure of the bulging spongy tissues in turn applies pressure to the inner membrane of the penile shaft trapping the blood in the penis and prevents a loss of erection.
Soon after sexual gratification has been achieved or the stimuli responsible for the erection has been removed from the equation the body then releases the enzyme Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitors which causes blood to leave the penis.
How do PDE5 inhibitor medications work?
There can be various reasons for a premature loss of erection or lack of erection, the most common being the premature release of the PDE5 into the body. What the active ingredients in PDE5 inhibitor drugs like Viagra, Cialis and Levitra is it delays or inhibits the effect of the PDE enzyme with the results of the blood vessels being dilated for longer which as a result helps in maintaining an erection.
Besides the above mentioned prescription treatments there are also various other ways of dealing with impotence like injections, vacuum pumps, hormone treatment, herbal treatments and surgery.
Which treatment is right for me?
With the sea of treatments now available to those who suffer with erectile dysfunction, ranging from the herbal to the prescription treatments of Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, it can be hard to decide which treatment option you feel would be right for you.
Before you can make any such decision it is important to understand the ways in which these work as long as the differences between them. Below you can find further information on each of the available prescription treatments for this condition by clicking on the appropriate link below.
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