There is a wide variety of man`s diseases and problems that can be prevented with a help of contraception. Your sexual health is the first guarantor of your happy healthy life. Our urologist will tell you about the ways of man`s contraception and choose the best variant for you according to your needs and features.
Impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED) means not being able to get a good enough erection to have intercourse.
Temporary impotence is very common indeed, particularly in younger men, and especially when they are either anxious, or have had too much to drink.
If you're having erection problems, bear these points in mind:
the most common cause of temporary impotence is anxiety.
impotence can be helped by medication, sex counselling, mechanical aids, or - very occasionally - surgical treatment.
impotence may be a symptom of an underlying condition requiring treatment; the most common of these is diabetes.
What causes impotence?
An erection happens when blood is pumped into the penis - and stays there - making it stiff and hard. It is a complex process, involving the blood vessels to and within the penis as well as the nervous system that controls the flow of blood and, on top of it all, the man's emotional state. Many sorts of influences can therefore stop erections from occurring. .
Psychological causes
Anxiety about 'performance' will almost certainly make it difficult or impossible to get an erection.
Problems in a relationship may affect potency.
Impotence may be caused by depression.
Bereavement: recent loss of a loved one is notorious for causing impotence.
Tiredness.
Stress.
Hang-ups - for instance, guilt about sex.
Unresolved gay feelings.
Physical causes
Problems with the chemical mechanism that makes erections happen - very common in older men.
Vascular (blood vessel) disorders. Patients with arteriosclerosis , other heart or vascular diseases and high blood pressure are at greater risk of developing impotence.
Excessive drainage of blood from the penis through the veins (venous leak) – uncommon.
Diabetes often creates erection difficulties.
Smoking increases the risk of developing arteriosclerosis and, therefore, of suffering from impotence.
Side effects from certain drugs, such as some blood pressure (BP) treatments, some antidepressants and some ulcer healing drugs; antidepressants and BP drugs, in particular, do this very frequently.
Side effects of non-prescribed drugs (tobacco, alcohol, cocaine and others).
Nervous system diseases - uncommon.
Major surgery, eg prostate surgery or other abdominal operations.
Hormonal abnormalities - rare.
What to do if you've got potency problems
If you're having difficulty in getting erections, you should see a doctor for assessment.
We strongly advise you not to go to high-priced clinics, where men in white coats pretend to be doctors while they extract large sums of money from you!
Really, it's best to start with your own GP. But if you don't feel you can face your doctor, other doctors can be found at:
family planning clinics.
genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinics.
clinics recommended by the Institute of Psychosexual Medicine , the Impotence Association, or the British Association For Sexual and Relationship Therapy (BASRT).
Brook Advisory Centres (for young people only).
Assessing your case
Whichever doctor you go to, he or she should carefully assess you, by:
talking with you
examining you
doing any necessary tests - eg for diabetes.
How is impotence treated?
Treatments for impotence vary a lot and depend on the cause.
Psychotherapy/counselling: this is mainly for use where the main cause is anxiety, guilt or a hang-up.
Lifestyle advice: this is mainly of help when the problem is related to tiredness, stress, alcohol, nicotine or other drugs.
Alteration of medication: this is useful when the impotence is due to pills that are being taken for high blood pressure or other disorders. A change of medication is often possible and may give fewer side effects.
Medicines for impotence have been developed very successfully in recent years. Many are highly effective, but they are not the sole answer to every man's erection difficulty.
There are also mechanical aids.
Pubic ring: a rubber or bakelite ring that is put around the base of the penis. It is claimed to be effective for men who can't maintain an erection for very long.
Vacuum pump: a tight-fitting cylinder, in which low pressure can be created, is placed over the penis. The resulting suction gives an erection. Unfortunately, the penis tends to look blue in colour, and feels cold to the touch.
Finally, there are surgical treatments.
Splinting: this treatment involves the insertion of a flexible synthetic or metal rod (prosthesis) into the penis to cause a mechanical erection. There are several different types of prosthesis. It is important to realise that this treatment cannot be reversed without more surgery, so it will not normally be used unless other methods have failed.
Sealing a vein leak: unfortunately, this is not always very effective.
It's also important to note that whatever form of treatment a man receives, sex counselling may be required. In cases that are entirely due to psychological causes, counselling alone can cure the problem. But even in the other methods, counselling is often necessary as a supplement to the main treatment.
Who can receive treatment on the NHS?
The NHS has a limited budget for drug therapy and the government has declared that only certain patients can receive treatment on the NHS. The three main groups who qualify for NHS prescriptions are:
men with the following conditions: diabetes, prostate cancer, severe pelvic injury, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, spina bifida, Parkinson's disease, poliomyelitis, spinal cord injury, single gene neurological disease, or those who have had prostate or radical pelvic surgery.
men who are severely 'distressed' as a result of impotence - this is not very specifically defined
men who were diagnosed as suffering from impotence and who were receiving treatment on the NHS on or before 14 September 1998.
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