Erectile Dysfunction - Causes and Treatment | Man Matters
What is impotence?
Medically known as erectile dysfunction, impotence is a man’s inability to achieve or maintain an erection or ejaculate during sexual intercourse. India is seen as the ‘impotence capital of the world’, not just in numbers but also in frequency rates. Impotence affects over 50% of Indian men over the age of 40 and 10% of men are aged below 40, data mostly unknown. Impotence or erectile dysfunction not only affects your sex life but can also be a critical factor causing depression, stress and low self-esteem. Knowing about the common potential causes will help you identify reasons as to why you may be experiencing this.
What are the causes of impotence?
Some of the major causes of impotence or erectile dysfunction are:
- Vascular or heart disease limits the amount of blood flowing to or staying in the penis leading to erectile dysfunction.
- High cholesterol and hypertension are associated with increased risks for impotence due to Atherosclerosis, a condition that causes the blood vessels to become clogged.
- Psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, guilt or fear can sometimes cause sexual issues and can be a major cause of impotence as you don’t experience the ‘excitement phase’, critical to an erection.
- Medications to cure high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, and prostate cancer have certain elements in it that can interfere with sexual function.
- Endocrine diseases: endocrine system helps regulate metabolism, sexual function, mood, etc by producing hormones. An abnormality in this can interfere with erections and sex drive. Imbalance in hormone – insulin causes Diabetes is a common example that can cause impotence as it affects hormone – insulin. Diabetes can also lead to nerve damage that leads to reduced blood flow.
- Nerve damage: Normal working of nerves is essential to get and keep an erection as it impairs the brain’s ability to communicate with the reproductive system. Nerves can be damaged due to diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, stroke, diabetes, multiple sclerosis, prostate surgery or damage to the spinal cord. Long-distance bicycle riders can experience temporary impotence as constant pressure on their genitals and buttocks can affect the function of the nerves.
Apart from the above, other health and lifestyle choices such as obesity, excessive smoking, alcoholism, and drug abuse are contributors to impotence or erectile dysfunction. This can be easily tackled by incorporating the following changes in your behaviour and lifestyle:
- Reducing smoking and drinking
- Strengthening communication in a romantic relationship
- Increasing your physical activity and following a healthy diet
- Reducing anxiety
Treatment for impotence
Impotence or erectile dysfunction can mess up your life as it affects your self-esteem and sex life. However, if you’re suffering from it, address it and take charge of your life. Various treatments such as medical interventions, natural remedies, and lifestyle changes are available to cure impotence. See a doctor if you face any of the above causes to find a sustainable solution.
Remember, you are not alone.There are various remedies available to overcome this issue. If you face it consistently, visit a doctor and take guidance towards mitigating the problem. At man matters, we offer a range of products to help you overcome impotence.