Another well-known psychotherapist, Sigmund Freud, called potency disorders the most common failure in every man's life. And what is surprising is that many, many years have passed since then and this statement is still relevant.
Modern medicine has learned to solve problems related to potency, there are many diagnostic and treatment technologies. But to this day, for a man, difficulties in the intimate sphere are a strong blow to pride and self-confidence.
Causes of decreased potency in men
To dispel the many myths surrounding this issue, let's first talk a little about statistics.
You know:
- 20% of men experience erectile dysfunction;
- 10% of men consult a specialist with sexual problems;
- 80% of men notice a decrease in potency, which is related to physiological disorders of the body;
- In 90% of cases, erectile dysfunction is completely treatable.
- On the one hand - not everything is as scary as it seemed, on the other hand - the presence of physiological causes of erectile dysfunction is a good reason to suspect any disease.
- So, organic causes of impotence can be as follows.
- It's worth it. Damage to the blood vessel walls leads to a disturbance in the blood supply to the penis and, consequently, to a decrease in potency. Diabetes, atherosclerosis, cardiovascular and other diseases lead to vascular problems.
- Hormonal. Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) is often observed in middle-aged and elderly men. The production of testosterone can also be disturbed by an excess of the antagonist, prolactin.
- It is iatrogenic. Lanya potency develops in the background of the fact that the man is taking, for example, medicines prescribed for stomach ulcers, cardiovascular diseases, and gout. Canceling the drugs or replacing them with analogues will help to solve the problem.
- Neurogenic. Erectile dysfunction occurs as a result of previous diseases, strokes, injuries to the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. In ¾ of the cases, the cause of the decrease in potency is spinal cord injury, ¼ - intervertebral hernia, tumors, multiple sclerosis and other diseases. The erection is weakened due to the difficult passage into the cavernous bodies or the complete absence of nerve impulses.
Lifestyle and potency disorders
Men often forget that sexual power is greatly influenced by how a person takes care of themselves and their overall health.
It's no secret that smoking and regular alcohol consumption are one of the main causes of sexual failure. Men's health is also affected by stress, frequent visits to the spa, and improper nutrition. Eating excessive amounts of fatty foods (and even with alcohol consumption) causes weight gain in men and an increase in the production of female sex hormones. As a result, this lifestyle can lead not only to erectile dysfunction, but also to infertility.
Psychological causes of weak potency
This type of primary source of erectile function problems is worth considering separately. Young people are more likely to suffer from such disorders, in most cases those who are just starting to have sex.
The reasons for weak potency in this case may be the following:
- in the presence of childhood or adolescent psychological trauma, when parents inspired their child that sex is a shameful, unworthy thing;
- in experiences due to one's own lack of experience, and therefore in the fear of ridicule;
- fear of sexually transmitted diseases;
- in case of fears about the partner's unwanted pregnancy, etc.
According to experts, an adult man with enough sexual experience behind him can solve the psychological problems of erectile dysfunction. However, young men often cannot do without professional help.
It is noteworthy that relationships with a partner can become both a cause of problems (if they are not close enough) and a means of getting rid of impotence (if they are warm and honest).
Another important fact. If psychological factors alone can cause weak potency, organic erectile dysfunction is always accompanied by a psychogenic component. As a result, after eliminating the root cause of the problems, psychological difficulties come to the fore and disrupt a man's normal sex life.
How to identify the cause of erectile dysfunction
- Urogenital diseases are diagnosed by an andrologist or urologist. You will need to take a blood test, sperm and biological smear, and undergo an ultrasound.
- Hormonal disorders are diagnosed by an endocrinologist. The doctor will recommend ultrasound examination and computer tomography of the endocrine glands, blood donation for hormones.
- Vascular disorders are diagnosed by a vascular surgeon. Tests are performed with Doppler ultrasound and functional tests that show the level of blood supply to the penis.
- Diseases of the brain and spinal cord, peripheral nervous system help to identify the neurologist. Electroencephalography, tomography of the spinal cord and brain, reoencephalography, electromyography will be assigned.
- The psychological causes of sexual disorders can only be found by a psychotherapist, psychiatrist or sexologist. The diagnostic methods in this case are psychological testing and conversations with the patient.
5 main reasons for potency problems: Age has nothing to do with it!
Age, fatigue, lack of sleep, stress. Forget those words! None of these conditions affect potency and libido if the man is physically healthy.
If you decide to try different erection stimulants (pharmacy and not), don't be too lazy to figure out what's causing the "misfire. "
Hormonal imbalance, or where do men take female hormones from?
What are we talking about?Decreased levels of male hormones and/or increased levels of female hormones.
Who is guilty?Normally, a man's body produces large amounts of male hormones and small amounts of female hormones. Alcohol, smoking, malnutrition, irregular sex life, beriberi, liver disease - all this (and not only! ) sooner or later leads to the following:
- the production of male sex hormones decreases,
- and women's production may, on the contrary, increase.
Of course this is not good.
What to do?
- Pass special tests. Find out exactly which hormones are missing and which are "going wild".
- Determine the scope of the problem.
- Replenish your body with the missing hormones.
- It inhibits the production of excessive amounts of female hormones.
- Restore your body's ability to produce the right amount of hormones (no more and no less).
What tests should be performed?Donating biological material is unpleasant and expensive for everyone. Ask a urologist. He will conduct an examination, analyze your complaints and tell you what tests you need to undergo.
He then selects the hormone-containing preparations that suit you. Or he prescribes a treatment so that the body "remembers" how much hormone it needs to produce.
What is the prognosis?In the case of a properly selected course of treatment and the implementation of the doctor's recommendations, the prognosis is positive - the potency is usually restored. Any age.
Infections of various origins
What are we talking about?Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), or infections that are "dormant" in the body and awaken under certain conditions.
Who is guilty?Infections and harmful bacteria can occur mainly for two reasons:
- Doubtful "contacts" without protective devices.
- The reproduction of microorganisms that live continuously in small quantities in any person. Such microorganisms typically wake up in diseases of the internal organs, when the immune system is weakened.
What to do?Both must be identified and destroyed. The earlier the better.
What tests should be done?There are many types of infectious diseases. Taking any type of test is a waste of time and money. Visit a urologist, list all your symptoms, describe in detail your feelings during urination, during or after sexual intercourse, undergo an examination and an ultrasound.
An experienced urologist collects this information and compiles a list of necessary laboratory tests. He then makes a diagnosis based on their results and prescribes medications and procedures.
What is the prognosis?Today, the vast majority of infectious lesions are perfectly treatable.
Inflammation: From pain to impotence - 1 step!
What are we talking about?Prostatitis, epididymitis, urethritis, cystitis, cystitis and others - as you noticed, with the suffix "-IT". Conditions that bring men pain, cramps, burning, high fever and other unpleasant sensations.
These feelings can occur during or after urination, during sexual intercourse or ejaculation, while walking, lifting weights, and even at rest.
Who is guilty?It is often the person who is to blame. Hypothermia and, conversely, overheating, ignoring the first symptoms of diseases (not only urological, the cause of inflammation can also be untreated tooth decay), unhealthy habits, casual relationships, infections, attempts at self-medication, uncontrolled intake of antibiotics and other drugs.
All this gradually accumulates - until an inflammatory focus is formed in one of the organs.
What to do?Diagnose and treat. The sooner, the less damage is done to the body. Inflammation not only causes problems with potency, but can also lead to infertility. The ideal solution is to have time to recover in the acute stage. But this is not always the case - often people go to the doctor in a chronic form.
What is the prognosis?Acute inflammation can be cured quite quickly. And if you take care of yourself and do not neglect the doctor's recommendations, relapses (repeated exacerbations) may not occur.
Chronic inflammation can also be treated. But the treatment takes a little longer. And there is a high probability of repeated exacerbations due to colds or stress.
Vascular problems: No blood - no erection!
What are we talking about?Partial or complete blockage of penile vessels due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.
What's happening?Normal erection requires rapid blood flow to the penis. If there are atherosclerotic plaques or blood clots in the blood vessels, the movement of blood slows down and the potency deteriorates. Complete blockage of blood vessels leads to absolute impotence.
Who is guilty?Improper diet, sedentary lifestyle, bad habits, too frequent or, on the contrary, too rare sexual intercourse, cardiovascular diseases, high blood pressure, etc.
What to do?Look for the reason. Together with the urologist. For this, special hardware tests are usually performed:
- Doppler imaging of blood vessels
- Erectile function test
- Biothesiometry
What is the prognosis?Depending on the condition of the blood vessels, they must either be freed from atherosclerotic plaques or new blood vessels must be grown. Your doctor will determine which method is more suitable for you.
Comprehensive instrumental treatment is required - vacuum LOD therapy, shock wave therapy, magneto-laser therapy. A good effect can be achieved if these techniques are combined with PRP therapy and intravenous injections.
The first positive results appear almost immediately. It is important not to stop at this stage or everything will return to normal very quickly. Do not be lazy, go through the course of treatment so that the effect is consolidated for a long time.
Diseases of the lumbosacral spine
What are we talking about?Spinal disorders occurring in the lumbar and/or sacral region directly affect the health of the male pelvic organs.
What's happening?Osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, displacement of the vertebrae, blood circulation disturbance, nerve endings may be damaged. This causes pain and numbness. And as a result - a violation of potency.
What to do?Take a course together with a urologist and a neurologist - here you need medicines, massage, acupuncture, specially designed exercises and physiotherapy (magnet, UVT, laser). Such therapy quickly relieves pain, helps restore normal urination, improves blood circulation and restores lost sensitivity.
What is the prognosis?If you haven't gotten to the point where you need spinal surgery, the prognosis is very reassuring. With the simultaneous treatment of a neurologist and a urologist, a fairly quick recovery and restoration of potency is possible.
If surgery is performed on the spine, the recovery will be much longer and quite complicated. Do not take it with you to surgery - consult a doctor in time!
Examination by a urologist for potency problems
Primary appointment with a urologist-andrologist
- Control
- prostate ultrasound
- bladder ultrasound
- Doppler examination of blood vessels - in case of potency problems
- Erectile function test - for potency problems
- Biothesiometry - in case of potency problems and premature ejaculation
- Medical consultation, evaluation of test results
Erectile dysfunction: types, causes and treatment methods
Men of all nationalities, no matter where they live or what age they are, worry about problems with their own penis. They are especially frightened if the erect penis is not hard enough, not "functional", and sexual intercourse is impossible. This disorder is called erectile dysfunction or impotence.
It should be noted that almost all representatives of the strong half of humanity 20 years and older are faced with poor-quality erections. However, the existence of this disorder of the sexual function can only be assumed if 25% of the cases of intimate communication are faulty (every fourth sexual intercourse occurs with "misfire").
Erectile dysfunction becomes a real tragedy for a man, he suffers from it both physically and mentally, so it must be treated immediately.
Characteristics and symptoms of impotence
Signs of erectile dysfunction include:
- lack of sexual desire. Reluctance to intimacy, i. e. violation of libido occurs with a decrease in the production of testosterone (male hormone), depression due to stress, frequent fatigue, bad condition after a fight with a sexual partner;
- slow erection, as a result of vascular diseases, etc. ;
- lack of ejaculation due to psychological factors;
- anorgasmia - lack of orgasm is usually also related to psychology.
The types of disorder are determined by their causes:
- organic - autoimmune diseases, high blood pressure, diabetes and many other serious diseases;
- psychogenic - problems with the partner, overload, stress;
- mixed.
According to statistics, nearly 80% of erectile dysfunction is associated with organ problems.
Each of the above types has its own characteristics. Psychological impotence appears suddenly, immediately, but the morning erection remains at the appropriate level and the excitement of the penis throughout the duration of sexual intercourse.
Organic erectile dysfunction manifests itself gradually. Sexual desire is present, orgasm occurs, but the penis loses its hardness in the process of intimacy. The erection is getting weaker every day. This indicates the presence of the disease.
In addition to the mixed nature of the disorder, the two factors mentioned above appear simultaneously for appropriate reasons.
Causes of impotence
It is advisable to list the most common causes of this disorder of male sexual function:
- Taking medications or certain other substances. We are talking about the use of drugs that reduce the activity of the cerebral cortex and thereby reduce the production of testosterone, antidepressants, antiallergenic drugs, etc. This includes alcohol and drugs.
- Psychological factors are standard - depression, constant stress, severe neurosis. Inconsistencies of addictions and desires during sex with a partner or a bad relationship with him, fear of sexual failure, banal fatigue at work. A lot depends on the partner - his excessive persistence or the "bad" word thrown out can contribute to the weakening of the erection.
- Various neurological diseases, circulatory disorders, injuries to the penis, pelvis or perineum, etc.
- Abnormal functioning of the endocrine system means a violation of male hormone production caused by genetic failures, tumors, infections and advanced age. Obesity also changes the hormonal background, and since this problem has now also affected young representatives of the strong half of humanity, doctors are concerned that impotence is being diagnosed more and more often in this part of the population.
In addition to the above, epilepsy, penile trauma and atherosclerosis can also contribute to the development of impotence. The latter disturbs the blood flow necessary for erection in the genitals through the arteries, so it is either weak or completely absent. In addition, problems with the veins lead to rapid excitement of the penis, but it quickly disappears, and sexual intercourse cannot be completed normally.
Difficulties related to blood vessels are generally dangerous for the male population of the earth. Violation of their inner shell is common in people suffering from autoimmune diseases, as well as in heavy smokers. There is also a disease called penile angiospasm, which is characterized by impaired blood circulation in the vessels of the penis.
Be careful with masculinity
Impotence is sometimes caused by congenital abnormalities of the penis. Such is the rare Peyronie's disease - the opening of the urethra is located incorrectly.
Another natural violation is a defect in the frenulum, a longitudinal fold of skin. It is located between the head of the penis and the foreskin and serves the following purpose: to open the head when excited, to control its bending and to prevent it from moving. If the frenulum is short, the man will feel pain during intercourse, and spotting may even occur.
In addition, such a mistake leads to premature ejaculation, so the man gets used to holding back during sex in order to prolong it. As a result, it is full of erectile dysfunction in a stable form. With surgical excision of the frenulum, everything can be corrected very quickly and easily. The operation is simple, takes little time and is well practiced.
Particular mention should be made of genital injuries (bruises, burns, gunshot and stab wounds, accidents) that lead to impotence. If you get them, see a doctor for help right away, and the sooner it happens, the more likely it is to avoid complete, irreversible erectile dysfunction.
- breaking the penis during rough intercourse, hitting or bending. In terms of potency, dangerous rupture of the cavernous bodies, severe pain, hemorrhaging, the organ swells. Depending on the severity of the situation, poultices or surgery may be prescribed as treatment;
- injury from a fall, exercise, or fight. Such a closed injury injures the urethra, manifests itself as a hematoma and pain when walking. Treatment - non-steroidal pain relievers, poultices, rarely - surgery;
- burns from chemicals, boiling water, ultraviolet radiation;
- subcutaneous bleeding, in which blood vessels are damaged, swelling occurs. It is dangerous because during healing, scars can form, which can become an obstacle to blood flow, without which an erection is impossible. A cold compress can help.
Impotence can be caused by a combination of anatomical and psychological factors: a person had sex after an injury and experienced very strong pain. In the future, you will subconsciously fear sexual intercourse, which sooner or later usually leads to the impossibility of an erection.
Hypothetically dangerous and some operations. So, the famous composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the author of the world-famous musicals "Cats" and "Phantom of the Opera", publicly stated: he is impotent, and became so after the operation - the prostate tumor was removed. Such a surgical intervention can indeed cause impotence, but in this case the doctors save the man's life. However, if you regularly undergo a urological examination, prostate cancer or adenoma can be detected at an early stage and treatment can be started in time. Then there will be no need for such surgery, which leads to the loss of sexual function.
Treatment
Any modern person, from young to old, is inevitably exposed to stress in the cycle of life. Some have bad habits, are malnourished and inactive due to the specifics of the job. All this leads to the deterioration of health, including the sexual sphere. Modesty does not allow a person to go to the doctor and confess his impotence, but this is a false idea.
In any case, regardless of the causes and manifestations of erectile dysfunction, consult a specialist immediately. Currently, sexologists can help in the fight against various cases of impotence, as they have a huge toolkit at their disposal.
Warning: self-treatment of this sexual disorder is dangerous, as pills and devices that support erections advertised everywhere help for a while, and can even harm. Their use leads to the loss of valuable time, during which the problem only worsens.
It should be noted that very rarely the use of a single method of treatment eliminates the pathological factor. In general, an integrated approach is much more effective, especially if the case is overlooked (and it often is). This method of treating erectile dysfunction quickly restores sexual function by eliminating the factors that led to the disorder and helps the patient cope with the uncertainty that arose when impotence occurs.
Of course, erectile dysfunction is not a fatal problem, but because of this, a man's quality of life deteriorates, his health and mood deteriorate, and families fall apart. That is why it is essential to get rid of it.
Impotence is no longer a punishment. If a man has the first signs and symptoms, he only needs to seek the help of a urologist. Early impotence most often develops against the background of inflammatory processes, STDs - their treatment has long been quick and successful, with timely access to specialists.