Impotence can affect men of all ages, although it is much more common in elderly men. It is normal when men experience occasional impotence. There are different causes of importance:
Lifestyle factors: smoking, alcohol consumption and abuse of other substances;
Physical causes: heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, neurological diseases and other health conditions. Some of the drugs that are used for treatment can also lead to it.
Diabetes: high blood sugar level can damage small blood vessels and nerves, including those in and around the penis, which cooperate with nerve impulses and blood flow.
Heart diseases: atherosclerosis causes narrowing and hardening of the arteries and reduces blood flow to the penis that leads to impotence.
Neurological injury or disease: spinal cord and brain injuries, spinal cord injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s disease, can cause and interrupt the transmission of nerve impulses from the brain to the penis.
Drugs: many prescription drugs, including drugs for high blood pressure, antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives, OTC drugs and illegal drugs and alcohol can contribute to impotency.
Side effects of treatment with drugs
Some drugs increase the risk of impotence such as:
– High blood pressure drugs, especially blockers, diuretics and calcium channel;
– Heart or cholesterol medications such as digoxin, gemfibrozil, or clofibrate;
– Psychotropic medications used to treat depression and bipolar disorders such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, and lithium. Certain types of antipsychotic drugs such as phenothiazines (such as compazine) and butyrophenones (e. g. haloperidol) can also lead to impotence;
– Gastroesophagelal reflux disease (GERD) drugs, which is used to reduce stomach acid, such as rantidine (Zantac) and cimetidine (Tagamet);
– Hormone drugs such as estrogen, corticosteroids, and 5-alpha reductase inhibitors;
– Chemotherapy drugs such as methotrexate .
Hormonal imbalances: hormonal disorders as a result of kidney and liver diseases and excessive production of prolactin, and testosterone deficiency, which is rare, can lead to impotence.
Peyronie’s disease: a rare, inflammatory condition that causes curvature of the penis, due to the scarring of erectile tissue in the penis. This interference with sexual function and can lead to painful erections.
Psychological causes: stress, tension, depression, anxiety, guilt, and anger can inhibit sexual performance. You can magnify the effects of impotence, the causes of physical whites.
Pelvic injury: an injury of the pelvic area, including a fall or a blow on the hip is sometimes the nerves around the penis numb and block their normal function.
Pelvic Surgery: Surgery of the colon, prostate, bladder, or can, like radiation therapy for prostate or bladder cancer, damage the nerves that control the flow of blood into and out of the penis, directly affect the strength of the penis during erection. Partial erections may revert over time.
Regardless of its causes impotence can provoke a feeling of hopelessness and low self-perception, which reinforces the creation of a cycle of repeated failures and negative feelings. Since the sexual performance is linked so strongly with men that impotence can be devastating, not only for his sexual life, but also for his proper pride. Men suffered from impotence often have feelings of inadequacy, embarrassment, or guilt, and can even understand unattractive to her partner. These feelings can lead to the avoidance of intimate situations, isolation, or withdrawal. Moreover, the negative feelings can also hinder social interactions and work. A lively debate about the problem with the partner and the physician may ultimately determine effective treatment strategies.
