Cause of Male Impotence
(Understanding the causes of impotence.)
Impotence or Erectile Dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for mutually satisfying intercourse. The incidence of impotence correlates with your age. Impotence effects some 77% of men by the age of 70 years old. Impotence impacts more than just your sexual activity.
The emotions and uncertainties that coincide with
impotence often have a significant effect on your self-esteem, as
well as, his relationship with his partner. Although the incidence
of impotence increases with age, it is not an inevitable result of
aging. Impotence causes may be a secondary condition linked to many
medical conditions. Please take a few minutes to review the
following article that addresses the causes
of impotence composed by one of our staff doctors.
Understanding the Cause of Impotence
The first step in treating impotence is that you understand the different causes of impotence including the psychology, physiology and anatomy responsible for the ability to achieve and maintain an erection. If you can comprehend the cause of impotence than we you can better understand the factors that are responsible for impotence and address the questions concerning male impotence treatment.
Natural Occurring Causes of Impotence
Historically, when you consulted your doctor concerning impotence you were usually informed there were no known physiological answers concerning his condition. Today, a generation of research has resulted in significant advances in both the diagnosis and treatment of impotence . Doctor now understand that approximately 85% of impotence is caused by physical/organic conditions while only 15% is due to psychological or mixed origin (both psychological and organic).
Some important causes of physiological impotence are as follows:
Impotence Caused by Vascular Disease
Vascular
Disease is the leading cause of impotence. Vascular disorders
include arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), hypertension,
hyper-cholestremia and other conditions which interfere with the
blood flow to the penis. Additionally, "venous leakage", a condition
occurring when the penile veins are unable to constrict efficiently
during an erection, also contributes to poor erections. When these
veins "leak", blood escapes to the periphery resulting in a poor
erection.
Impotence Caused By Diabetes - is another common cause of impotence. Approximately 50% of men with insulin dependent diabetes experience some degree of impotence after 55 years old. Diabetes results in poor circulation and/or peripheral neuropathy. When the nerves are involved, sexual stimuli are not transmitted appropriately to or from the brain and impotence develops.
Impotence Caused By Neurological Diseases
- such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord
injuries and long term effects of diabetes can also result in
impotence causes.
Impotence Caused By Endocrine System
Deficiencies in the Endocrine System are another cause of impotence.
Low levels of testosterone or thyroid hormone can interfere with the
stimulation process necessary in the erection sequence. Excessive
production of prolactin by the pituitary gland may contribute to
decreased levels of testosterone resulting in a lack of desire.
Diabetes once again enters the scenario as it is classified as an
endocrine disorder.
Prescription Drugs a Known Cause of
Impotence
Prescription Drugs and Impotence - often cause impotence as a side effect. Some two hundred known prescription drugs are a know cause of impotenc:
Impotence Caused By Anti-hypertensives Medications:
Beta-blockers
e.g. Atenolol, Propanolol and Tenorium.
Diuretics
medications e.g. HydroDiuril and Lasix.
Ace
Inhibitors/Calcium Channel Blockers medications e.g. Vasotec®,
Lotension®, Cardizem® and Norvasc® periodically cause Erectile
Dysfunction , however, they are generally represent an excellent
alternative medication for individuals with drug induced Erectile
Dysfunction.
Impotence Caused By Antidepressant/Antipsychotic Medications
-of almost any label can also result in impotence e.g. Prozac®,
Elavil®, Zoloft®, Thorazine® and Haldol®. Note: Many other
medications in a variety of classes can periodically cause
impotence. If you take a prescription medication or an
over-the-counter medication, regularly, please consult with your
physician.
Please Note: Do not alter the dosage or discontinue
a prescription drug without the advice of your local doctor.
If you have impotence symptoms secondary to the side effects
of one of the above prescription drugs. There is a 90% chance that
Viagra will enhance your erections while you continue your current
dose of the prescription drug. Order Viagra online now
(click here
for details).
Impotence Caused By Smoking
Smoking as been linked as an impotence cause in numerous clinical studies.
The most common causes of the organic component of impotence with regards to smoking as a cause of impotence are primarily vascular of nature. Vascular abnormalities associated with smoking include atherosclerosis which causes 40% of cases of impotence, and in cases of diabetes mellitus. The prevalence of impotence is 50% in those men with diabetes.
Smoking is significantly associated with the development of both atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus.
The Epidemiology and Pathophysiology or the
Cause of Impotence.
The Journal of Urology 2009 Jan; 161(1):5-11
After smoking two cigarettes, the diameter of the internal pudendal artery narrows and the penile arteries almost completely close. This evidence suggests that smoking can cause an acute vasospastic constriction of the arteries in the penis. These observations are supported by physiological evidence that nicotine causes acute peripheral vasoconstriction. Acute Vasospasm of Penile Arteries in Response to Cigarette Smoking. Urology 2009; 36(1):99-100
Research
has shown that male smokers who suffer from long standing
hypertension are 26 times more likely to be impotent than those
individuals who do not smoke. May 2009, The Journal of Family
Practice.
Aside from impotence, smoking as also been linked to the
following negative effect concerning male sexual health:
Reduced
volume of ejaculation
Lowered
sperm count
Abnormal
sperm shape
Impaired
sperm motility
Viagra Will Reverse The Causes of Impotence Secondary to Smoking
Additional
Causes of Impotence
Impotence Caused By LH-RH Analogs/Antiandrogen Medications
- e.g. Lupron Depot®, Eulexin®, Nilandron®, Casodex®, etc. are
medications are used in the treatment of prostate cancer. They
function by decreasing the production of testosterone in the testes
and adrennal glands, which decrease in testosterone often results in
impotence.
Impotence Caused By Chemotherapy/Radiation therapy - is also a significant contributors to impotence. These drugs/treatments are used in the treatment of cancer.
Impotence Caused By Substance Abuse - can also negatively effect male potency. The chronic use of cocaine, marijuana, alcohol, steroids etc. often results in impotence, as well as a decrease in desire. Excessive tobacco use can also attribute to impotence by accentuating the effects of other risk factor such as vascular disease or hypertension.
Impotence Caused By Radical Pelvic Surgery - also result in impotence. Surgical procedures involving the prostate gland, bladder or colon may interfere with the nerves involved in the erectile response. Radiation therapy for cancer may also effect the erectile process.
Prostate Cancer and Impotence - again prostate cancer and surgical procedures to the prostate are attributed to a cause of impotence.
Fortunately, Levitra impotence treatment as proven to be very effective in men with impotence symptoms associated with prostate cancer or the nerve-sparing prostatectomy associated with the treatment of prostate cancer (click here for details).
Psychological Causes Of Impotence
- is usually diagnosed when no physical causes can be defined. Pure
psychological impotence usually occurs suddenly without warning as
opposed to physical impotence that may gradually develop over the
years.
Psychological Causes of Impotence
Some common psychological causes of impotence are as follows:
Performance
anxiety - is one of the most common causes of psychological
impotence. When a man feels pressured to achieve or maintain an
erection, he will commonly become anxious and nervous when in a
sexually demanding situation.
Stress
- increases the body's production of catecholamines such as
adrenaline and nor- adrenaline, which act as erection inhibitors.
The release of these inhibitors further contributes to failure
resulting in more anxiety. Therefore, the cycle begins, increased
stress resulting in increased catecholomines that further inhibits
the erectile process.
Depression
- is another cause of psychogenic impotence. Unfortunately, many of
the popular antidepressant medications (for a list see prescription
medications in the next section) have side effects which include
erectile failure.
Impotence Caused By Anatomical Deviation of the Penis
Anatomical Deviation of the Penis, known as Peyronie's Disease, may also cause impotence. This condition usually develops from an inflammatory process and results in fibrous scaring of the penis. The cause of this process is not yet understood; however, when an erection does occur, there is a bending of the penis secondary to the scar tissue. This curvature may interfere with erectile capacity and/or ejaculation.
90% of Impotence Causes Can be Treated With Impotence Drugs
(Effective
impotence treatments for a wide variety of
impotence causes.)