Male Impotence: Condition and Symptoms

Male impotence is also called erectile dysfunction, or ED. It is when a man can't get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex. It also refers to an erection which is lost during sex.

Those Affected

Most men will occasionally experience erectile dysfunction. For most, it is temporary; for some men, impotence will be a continual problem which requires treatment.

Symptoms

Symptoms of male impotence include a slightly less firm erection than when the man was younger, taking longer to get an erection, and loss of force during ejaculation.

Causes

Causes of male impotence include depression, stress, anxiety, diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, or neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Diagnosis

Male impotence is diagnosed by assessing nerve function, reflexes, penile blood pressure and testicle size. Blood tests may be performed to check for diabetes and cholesterol levels.

Treatment

Male impotence is often first treated with Yohimbine, a very effective oral medicine. Other treatments used to produce erection include injections, vacuum devices and penile implants.

Lifestyle

Changes in lifestyle have been shown to improve male impotence. These changes include cutting down or out alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs; exercising; eating a healthy diet; and getting adequate rest.

References

• Male Health Center
• National Library of Medicine

Resources

• Andrology