Impotence

Impotence is a condition whereby a man is unable to develop and/or maintain an erection. There may be a variety of reasons for this, ranging from psychological (stress) to physiological (diabetes), and many of them are completely treatable. Impotence is also often referred to as erectile dysfunction

Physiologically speaking, an erection occurs when blood enters the penis and is maintained there. It is essentially a hydraulic process designed to facilitate sexual intercourse.

Physiological impotence occurs when this process is somehow physically impeded, and this kind if impotence is most often completely treatable. Psychological impotence is when a person’s thoughts and feelings prevent them from developing and maintaining an erection. This can quite often be cured, particularly through the use of placebos which have proven to be highly effective in combating this type of impotence.

Because a man’s masculinity is a very sensitive subject, and sex plays such a big role in our society and forms the basis of our day-to-day relationships, erectile dysfunction can have a devastating psychological impact on a man. He may feel ashamed or inadequate, or that he has somehow lost a part of himself.

It is important to remember that impotence is usually very treatable, and that seeking medical help is strongly advised in order to head off any further psychological problems. This is worth emphasizing, since a man may feel embarrassed about talking about the situation with another person, but he must of he is to get the assistance that he needs. It is also well worth remembering that around ten percent of all men will experience some period of recurring impotence during the course of their lives, so it is not at all an uncommon condition.

The original pharmaceutical cure for impotence was the legendary Viagra, a trade name for the drug sildenafil, back in 1990. Viagra is still used today, and is very popular both treatment-wise and when used recreationally (a practice which is strongly discouraged on health grounds)

Most medical treatments for erectile dysfunction work on a short-term, temporary basis. They help a man to achieve and maintain an erection long enough to do what he needs to do, but will not remedy the underlying cause of the impotence long-term.

Three different kinds of oral treatment for impotence are popular at the moment, and these all work like Viagra, combining with some sexual stimulation in order to achieve an erection. Depending on the type of treatment and the individual patient, they may need between twenty minutes and one hour to become effective, and may remain so for as little as a few hours, or as long as a day and a half.

Alprostadil is another kind of impotence remedy. It is either injected or inserted directly into the penis using a special applicator shortly before sex. This treatment is primarily used in cases where oral drugs may cause unwanted side-effects as a result of passing through the normal digestive system.

A vacuum pump is a device used to physically draw blood into the penis directly before sexual intercourse. Their effectiveness is somewhat limited, and these devices are also sometimes used recreationally.

In some small handful of cases, a man may receive hormone treatment for an erectile dysfunction problem. This depends heavily on the nature of the problem and the potential for other solutions, but it has proved effective in some cases.
As a last resort when other forms of treatment have rove ineffective, a prosthetic implant may be used to insert a stiff ‘rod’ into the penis, which will allow it to do its job to some extent. This is of course far from an ideal solution.

In cases of suspected psychological impotence, counseling is often advised. In fact, due to the nature of impotence and the psychological side-effects it can have, a course of therapy may be recommended for any man who suffers from a prolonged bout of impotence. Placebos are found to be extremely effective in cases of psychological impotence, sometimes it seems all a man needs is to feel like he is whole again, and it will be so.

The action of anti-impotence drugs is framed in terms of a discussion on what are called PDE5 inhibitors.

Phosphodiesterases are a group of enzymes which catalyse the hydrolysis ot the nucleotides cyclic GMP and cyclic AMP. They may be used to treat a variety of issues involving brain dysfunctions.

One particular form of phosphodiesterase is PDE5, whose inhibitors are the common anti-impotence drugs sildenafil, vardenafil and tadalafil, more commonly known as Viagra, Levitra and Cialis. These drugs block the action of PDE5, which in turn allows the muscle around the arteries of the penis to relax, allowing increased blood flow and permitting the shaft to fill with blood and become ‘erect’.

Another experimental drug treatment, bremelanotide, acts in a different way, being thought to act on the brain in a manner which increases sexual desire in both man and women The exact mechanism of this action remains under investigation, but it is thought to involve the activation of melancortin receptors in the brain.

Melanotan is a similar kind of treatment to bremelanotide, working to increase sexual drive rather than on the physical mechanical action of the penis.

The popular recreational supplement ginseng has been proven to be measurably more effective than a placebo in treating erectile dysfunction.

Zinc is also a common nutritional supplement which is known to have e beneficial effect on sexual performance. It stops the conversion of testosterone into estrafiol, which leaves more testosterone available to assist the erectile process. A process in which it plays a key role.

Many healthcare providers and nutritionalists recommend supplementing with zinc in order to assist in cases of erectile dysfunction.