Impotence can be defined as a consistent failure to achieve or maintain an erection that is necessary for a satisfying sexual intercourse. Impotence is not a disease but a medical condition often referred as ‘Erectile Dysfunction’ and can be treated effectively.

Physiological Causes of Impotence

Erection is obtained as a result of a series of actions and when this sequence is affected at any point it results in impotence. About 90% of impotence is caused due to some kind of physical problem which can be the result of one or more of the following:

• Physical damage to the penis, bladder, spinal cord and pelvis caused due to injury or surgery.
• Damaged arteries and fibrous tissues caused due to diseases like diabetes, pressure, kidney problems, vascular diseases multiple sclerosis and chronic alcoholism.
• Habits like smoking can affect the flow of blood in veins and arteries.
• Hormonal problems.
• Side-effects from drugs like antidepressants, ulcer medications, antihistamines and tranquilizers to name a few.
• And finally age also plays a role in causing impotence but is not exclusive.

Diagnosing Impotence

Accepting that one has the problem of impotence and consulting a doctor for diagnosis is the major part of solving the problem. Studying the patient’s medical and sexual history, physical examinations and various laboratory tests can help to diagnose the cause of impotence accurately.

Treatment of Impotence due to Physiological causes

Once diagnosed the problem of impotence can be solved with numerous treatments and medications that are available today. Advances in medical field and massive amounts of research have made this possible. Some of the most common and effective treatments for the physiological causes of impotence are drug therapy, vacuum therapy and surgery.

Treatment by drugs

Treatment by drugs can be done either by taking them orally or by injecting the drugs directly into the penis. Some commonly used drugs are:

• Viagra or sildenafil is the most common and widely used drug for impotence. This is an oral drug and has to be taken 1 hour before sexual activity. Viagra works by relaxing the smooth muscles in the penis which increases the flow of blood. Viagra is effective only with sexual stimulation and can be taken only once a day. Cialis, Levitra and Uprima are some of the other drugs that are used to treat impotence.
• Caverject or alprostadil is a drug which is directly injected into the penis to make it engorged with blood.
• MUSE is a drug which comes as pellet and is directly inserted into the urethra.

Treatment using vacuum devices

This treatment is done by creating a vacuum around the penis using a mechanical device. This vacuum draws blood into the penis which expands and engorges.

Treatment by Surgery

Surgery is opted as a treatment for impotence to either repair damaged arteries and veins or to implant a device called prostheses which can help the penis to form an erection.