Impotence or Erectile dysfunction is a very sensitive and complex issue for many men, but with the rapid strides in understanding and treatment of it in the last 20 years, sufferers are now finding that there is very definitely light at the end of the tunnel. Its dictionary definition is an inability to achieve or maintain an erection of the penis in order to achieve satisfactory sexual intercourse. Sexual desire is usually unaffected and sometimes the person is still capable of ejaculation.
Erectile dysfunction can be either psychological or physical in origin, or very commonly a mixture of both. With advancing age, more erectile dysfunction is caused by physical underlying reasons than psychological. Physical causes usually evolve more slowly over time, whereas erectile dysfunction attributed to a psychological cause can happen quite suddenly.
A physical illness or injury is often the initial cause of erectile dysfunction. Patients in studies have reported erectile dysfunction arising after experiencing physical trauma from such incidents as car accidents, broken limbs, heart attacks, spinal injury or strokes. Illnesses like diabetes, narrowed or blocked arteries, hormonal deficiencies, high blood pressure, prostrate problems or multiple sclerosis also can cause of erectile dysfunction. Smoking and alcohol consumption can also lead to erectile dysfunction. As time passes, a patient may worry and become stressed about experiencing erectile dysfunction and lose confidence, and feel that they are letting their partners down, which in turn may exacerbate the problem even more.
Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction include stress, anxiety, marital difficulties, depression, and lack of positive self-image or sexual confidence. Sometimes, in order to establish whether there is a physical problem with the patient, doctors may undertake night-time tests. A healthy male will normally experience between two and six erections during a night’s sleep, so sensors are fitted to the patient to detect any erectile activity. If the patient does indeed achieve erection whilst asleep, it becomes clear that there is no physical hindrance and the problem is of a psychological origin.
Viagra is successful in treating erectile dysfunction in 80% of men, whether it is of a psychological or physical cause. It also increases the frequency and duration of erections. It only promotes erectile function when sexual stimulation is given, however, and it is a common misconception that taking Viagra will immediately result in an erection. A man taking Viagra should be able to go about his normal tasks for five or six hours, and would not be expected to achieve an erection if sexual stimulation did not take place.
Viagra is not technically an aphrodisiac but the psychological effect of improving a man’s erectile function often has the added benefit of boosting his self-confidence, happiness and total wellbeing, which can lead to an enhanced sexual libido and potential attractiveness to the opposite sex.