What causes a decrease in potency in men?

Another well-known psychotherapist, Sigmund Freud, identified erectile dysfunction as the most common failure in a 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 with potency, there are many diagnostic and treatment technologies. But to this day, for a man, any difficulties in the intimate area come with a strong blow to pride and self-confidence.

Causes of a decrease in potency in men

To dispel some myths related to this issue, let's first talk a little about statistics.

Do you know, that:

• 20% of men suffer from erectile dysfunction;
• 10% of men turn to a specialist with sexual problems;
• 80% of men notice a decrease in potency associated with physiological disorders in the body;
• In 90% of cases, erectile dysfunction is completely treatable.
• On the one hand, agree - everything is not as scary as it seemed, on the other hand - the presence of physiological causes of erectile dysfunction is a good reason to suspect a disease.
• So the organic causes of impotence can be as follows.
• Vessel. Damage to the vessel walls leads to disruption of the blood supply to the penis and, as a result, to a decrease in potency. Diabetes mellitus, arteriosclerosis, cardiovascular and other diseases lead to vascular problems.
• hormonal. Testosterone deficiency (hypogonadism) is often observed in middle-aged and older men. Testosterone production can also be disrupted by an excess of its antagonist, prolactin.
• Iatrogenic. Sluggish potency develops against the background of a man taking medications prescribed for, for example, stomach ulcers, cardiovascular diseases, gout. The cancellation of drugs or their replacement with analogues will help solve the problem.
• neurogenic. Erectile dysfunction occurs as a result of previous illnesses, strokes, injuries to the central nervous system and peripheral nerves. In ¾ of the cases, spinal cord injuries, ¼ - intervertebral hernia, neoplasms, multiple sclerosis and other diseases are the reasons for the decrease in potency. The erection weakens due to the difficult passage into the cavernous bodies or the complete absence of nerve impulses.

Lifestyle and erectile dysfunction

Very often men forget that sexual strength is largely 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 bathing and improper diet. Eating an excessive amount of fatty foods (and even together with drinking alcohol) in a man leads to an increase in body weight 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.

Mental causes of weak potency

This type of primary cause of erectile function problems deserves separate consideration. Young people are more likely to suffer from such disorders in most cases - those who are just starting to have a sex life.

The reasons for poor effectiveness in this case may be:

• in the presence of psychological trauma in childhood or adolescence, when parents taught their child that sex is something shameful, unworthy;
• in experiences from lack of personal experience and thus fear of being ridiculed;
• for fear of sexually transmitted diseases;
• for fears in connection with an unwanted pregnancy of a partner etc.

According to experts, an adult man who has sufficient sexual experience is quite capable of solving the psychological problems of erectile dysfunction. But young men often cannot do without professional help.

Remarkably, relationships with a partner can lead to both problems (if they are not close enough) and a means of getting rid of impotence (if they are warm and sincere).

Another important fact. If psychological factors alone can be the cause of erectile dysfunction, then the 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 interfere with the normal sex life of a man.

How to identify the cause of erectile dysfunction

• Urogenital diseases are diagnosed by an andrologist or urologist. You will need to have a blood test, sperm and biological swabs, and an ultrasound.
• Hormonal disorders are determined by an endocrinologist. The doctor will recommend undergoing ultrasound and computed tomography of the endocrine glands, donating blood for hormones.
• Vascular diseases are diagnosed by a vascular surgeon. Examinations are performed using Doppler ultrasound and functional tests that show the level of blood supply to the penis.
• Diseases of the brain and spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system will help identify a neurologist. They are assigned electroencephalography, tomography of the spinal cord and brain, rheoencephalography, electromyography.
• The psychological causes of sexual disorders can only be found by a psychotherapist, psychiatrist or sexologist. Diagnostic methods in this case are psychological tests, conversations with the patient.

5 main causes of 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 do decide to try different erectile stimulants (pharmacy and non-pharmaceutical), don't be too lazy to find out what actually causes "dropouts".

Hormonal imbalance or where do men get female hormones from?

what are we talking aboutDecreased levels of male hormones and/or increased levels of female hormones.

who is guiltyNormally, a man's body produces a large amount of male hormones and a small amount of female ones. Alcohol, smoking, malnutrition, irregular sex life, beriberi, liver diseases - all of this (and not only! ) sooner or later leads to:

• the production of male sex hormones is reduced,
• and the production of women, on the contrary, may increase.

Of course that's not good.

What to do?

1. Pass special tests. Find out exactly which hormones are missing and which are "freaking out".
2. Determine the scope of the problem.
3. Replenish your body with the missing hormones.
4. Suppress the production of excessive amounts of female hormones.
5. Restore the body's ability to produce hormones in the right amount (no more, no less).

What kind of tests should be done?Donating biomaterials for everything is an unpleasant and expensive occupation. Ask a urologist. He will conduct an examination, analyze your complaints and tell you what tests you need to pass.

He then selects the right hormone-containing preparations for you. Or they may prescribe a treatment to help the body "remember" how many hormones it needs to produce.

What's the prognosis?With a correctly selected course of treatment and the implementation of the doctor's recommendations, the prognosis is positive - potency, as a rule, is restored. Every age.

Infections of various origins

what are we talking aboutSexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) or infections that are "in a dormant state" in the body and wake up under certain conditions.

who is guiltyInfections and harmful bacteria can occur mainly for two reasons:

1. Doubtful "contacts" without means of protection.
2. The reproduction of microorganisms that constantly live in small quantities in each person. Typically, such microorganisms awaken in diseases of the internal organs, when the immune system is weakened.

What to do?Both must be identified and destroyed. The sooner the better.

What tests do?There are many types of infectious diseases. Running tests for all species is a waste of time and money. Visit a urologist, list all your symptoms, tell them in detail how you feel when urinating, during or after intercourse, get a physical and an ultrasound.

An experienced urologist will gather all of this information and make a list of necessary laboratory tests. Then, based on their findings, he makes a diagnosis and prescribes medications and procedures.

What's the prognosis?Today, the vast majority of infectious lesions are perfectly treatable.

Inflammation: From Pain to Impotence - 1 Step!

what are we talking aboutProstatitis, epididymitis, urethritis, vesiculitis, cystitis and others - all, as you noticed, with the suffix "-IT". Conditions that burden men with pain, cramps, burning, high fever and other unpleasant sensations.

These sensations can occur during or after urination, during intercourse or during ejaculation, while walking, lifting weights, and even at rest.

who is guiltyIt's often the man's fault. Hypothermia and, conversely, overheating, ignoring the first symptoms of the disease (not only urological, the cause of inflammation can even be untreated dental caries), unhealthy habits, loose relationships, infections, attempts at self-medication, uncontrolled use of antibiotics and other drugs.

All this gradually accumulates - until a focus of inflammation forms in one of the organs.

What to do?Diagnose and treat. The earlier, the less damage will be done to the body. Inflammation doesn't just cause problems with potency - it can lead to infertility. The ideal option is to have time to recover in the acute stage. But that is not always the case – people often come to the doctor with a chronic form.

What's the prognosis?Acute inflammation can be cured relatively quickly. And if you take care of yourself and do not neglect the doctor's recommendations, relapses (repeated exacerbations) may not occur.

Chronic inflammation is also treatable. But the treatment takes a little longer. And there is a high probability of repeated exacerbations as a result of colds or stress.

Vascular problems: no blood - no erection!

what are we talking aboutPartial or complete occlusion of the vessels of the penis due to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.

What's happening?A normal erection requires rapid blood flow to the penis. When there are atherosclerotic plaques or blood clots in the blood vessels, blood movement slows down and potency worsens. A complete occlusion of the blood vessels leads to absolute impotence.

who is guiltyImproper diet, lack of exercise, bad habits, too frequent or, conversely, too infrequent sexual contacts, diseases of the cardiovascular system, pressure surges, etc.

What to do?Find the reason. Together with the urologist. Special hardware studies are usually carried out for this purpose:

1. Dopplerography of the vessels
2. Test of erectile function
3. biothesiometrics

What's the prognosis?Depending on the condition of your vessels, they must either be freed from atherosclerotic plaques or new vessels should be grown. The doctor will determine which method is more suitable in your case.

Comprehensive apparatus treatment is required - vacuum LOD therapy, shock wave therapy, magneto-laser therapy. A good effect is obtained when 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, otherwise everything will return to normal very quickly. Do not be lazy, go through the course of treatment in full to consolidate the effect for a long time.

Diseases of the lumbosacral spine

what are we talking aboutDiseases of the spine in the lumbar and/or sacral region directly affect the health of the pelvic organs in men.

What's happening?Due to osteochondrosis, intervertebral hernia, displacement of the vertebrae, circulatory disorders, nerve endings can be injured. This causes pain and numbness. And as a result - violations of potency.

What to do?Get treatment together with a urologist and a neurologist - here you need medication, massage, acupuncture, special exercises and physiotherapy (magnet, UVT, laser). Such therapy quickly relieves pain, helps restore normal urination, improves blood circulation and restores lost sensitivity.

What's the prognosis? If you haven't gotten to the point where you need spinal surgery, then the prognosis is very reassuring. With simultaneous treatment by a neurologist and a urologist, a fairly quick recovery and restoration of potency is possible.

If you are shown spinal surgery, the recovery will be much longer and quite complicated. Do not bring to the operation - consult a doctor in good time!

Examination by a urologist for problems with potency

Primary appointment with a urologist-andrologist

• inspection
• prostate ultrasound
• bubble ultrasound
• Doppler examination of blood vessels - in case of problems with potency
• Erection test - for potency problems
• Biothesiometry - for potency problems and premature ejaculation
• Doctor consultation, evaluation of examination results

Erectile dysfunction: types, causes and methods of treatment

Men of any nationality, no matter where they live and no matter what their age, worry about problems with their own penis. They are particularly afraid when the erect penis isn't hard enough, doesn't "work" and it's impossible to have intercourse. This disorder is called erectile dysfunction or impotence.

It should be noted that almost all representatives of the strong half of humanity from the age of 20 face erections of poor quality. However, this disturbance of the sexual function can only be assumed if intimate communication is deficient in 25% of cases (every fourth sexual intercourse occurs with "dropouts").

Erectile dysfunction becomes a real tragedy for a man, he suffers from it both physically and psychologically, so it should be treated immediately.

Signs and symptoms of impotence

There are such signs of erectile dysfunction:

• lack of sexual desire. Unwillingness to intimacy, that is, a violation of libido occurs with a decrease in the production of testosterone (male hormone), depression due to stress, frequent fatigue, poor condition after a quarrel with a sexual partner;
• sluggish erection as a result of vascular disease, etc. ;
• lack of ejaculation due to psychological factors;
• Anorgasmia - the lack of an orgasm is also usually associated with psychology.

The types of disorders are determined by their causes:

• organic - autoimmune diseases, hypertension, diabetes and a number of other serious diseases;
• psychogenic - problems with a partner, overwork, stress;
• mixed.

According to statistics, almost 80% of cases of erectile dysfunction are related to organic problems.

Each of the above types has its own characteristics. Psychological impotence occurs suddenly and immediately, but the erection in the morning remains at the right level, and the excitement of the penis lasts throughout intercourse.

Organic erectile dysfunction manifests itself gradually. Sexual desire is present, orgasm occurs, but the penis loses its hardness in the process of intimacy. Every day the erection gets weaker. This indicates the presence of a disease.

In the mixed nature of the disorder, the above two factors co-occur for related reasons.

Causes of impotence

It is advisable to list the most common causes of this disorder of male sexual function:

1. Taking medication or certain other substances. We are talking about the use of drugs that reduce the activity of the cerebral cortex, thereby reducing the production of testosterone, antidepressants, antiallergens, etc. This includes alcohol and drugs.
2. Psychological factors are standard - depression, constant stress, severe neurosis. Discrepancies in addiction and desire for sex with a partner or a bad relationship with her, fear of failure in sexual intercourse, banal fatigue at work. Much depends on the partner - her excessive endurance or the "wrong" word flown out can contribute to a weakening of the erection.
3. Various neurological diseases, circulatory disorders, injuries to the penis, pelvis or perineum, etc.
4. Abnormal functioning of the endocrine system implies a violation of the production of the male hormone caused by genetic errors, 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 fear that impotence will be diagnosed more often in this part of the population.

In addition, epilepsy, penile trauma, and vascular sclerosis can contribute to the onset of impotence. The latter interferes with the flow of blood to the genitals through the arteries necessary for an erection, so it is either weak or absent. In addition, problems with the veins lead to rapid excitement of the penis, but this quickly disappears and sexual intercourse cannot be completed normally.

Difficulties with blood vessels are generally dangerous for the male population of the world. Injury to their inner shell is common in people suffering from autoimmune diseases, as well as in people who smoke heavily. There is also a condition called penile angiospasm, which is characterized by impaired blood circulation in the vessels of the penis.

Be careful with masculinity

Sometimes the cause of impotence are congenital anomalies of the penis. Such is the rare Peyronie's disease - the opening of the urethra is located incorrectly.

Another natural injury is a defect in the frenulum, a longitudinal fold in the skin. Located between the head of the penis and the foreskin, its purpose is to open the head when aroused, regulate its curvature and prevent movement. If the frenulum is short, the man will experience pain during intercourse, even spotting may occur.

In addition, such a defect leads to early ejaculation, so a man gets used to restraining himself during sex in order to prolong it. As a result, this is fraught with erectile dysfunction in a stable form. Everything can be corrected very quickly and easily by surgically severing the frenulum. The operation is simple, takes little time and is well practiced.

Separately, it should be said about injuries to the genital organ (bruises, burns, gunshot and stab wounds, accidents) that lead to impotence. If you get them, you should seek medical help immediately, and the sooner this is done, the more likely it is to avoid complete irreversible erectile dysfunction.

• Rupture of the penis from rough intercourse, hitting, or bending. There is a dangerous rupture of the cavernous bodies for potency, there is severe pain, a hematoma, the organ swells. Depending on the severity of the situation, compresses or surgery may be prescribed as treatment;
• Injury from a fall, exercise, in a fight. Such a closed injury injures the urethra, is manifested by a hematoma, pain when walking. Treatment - nonsteroidal analgesics, compresses, rarely - surgery;
• burns from chemicals, boiling water, UV rays;
• subcutaneous hemorrhage, which damages blood vessels, causes swelling. It is dangerous because scars can form during healing, 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 was in severe pain. In the future, at a subconscious level, he will be afraid to have sexual intercourse, which sooner or later will lead to the fact that an erection will be impossible.

Hypothetically dangerous and some surgeries. The famous composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the author of the world-famous musicals "Cats" and "The Phantom of the Opera", publicly declared: He was impotent and became so after the operation - he had a prostate tumor removed. Such surgical intervention can really lead to impotence, but in this case doctors save a person's life. However, if you are regularly examined by a urologist, prostate cancer or adenoma can be detected early and treatment can be started in good time. Then such an operation, which leads to the loss of sexual function, is not required.

treatment

Every modern man, from young to old, inevitably faces stress in the cycle of life. Some, due to the nature of the work, have bad habits, are malnourished and inactive. All this leads to a deterioration in health, including in the sexual sphere. Modesty does not allow a man to go to the doctor and confess his impotence, but this is a misconception.

In any case, regardless of the causes and manifestations of erectile dysfunction, you should immediately contact a specialist. Currently, sexologists can help in the fight against various cases of impotence, since they have a huge arsenal of tools for this.

Caution: Self-treatment of this sexual disorder is dangerous, as erection-enhancing pills and devices touted everywhere can temporarily help and even harm. Their use leads to the loss of valuable time, during which the problem only gets worse.

It should be noted that very rarely treatment is the use of a single method that eliminates the pathological factor. As a rule, an integrated approach is much more effective, especially when the case is (and often is) neglected. 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 insecurity that developed when impotence appeared.

Of course, erectile dysfunction isn't a fatal problem, but it reduces a man's quality of life, worsens his health and mood, and breaks up families. Hence it is important to get rid of it.

Impotence is no longer a sentence. If a man has the first signs and symptoms, he only needs to ask a urologist for help. Early impotence most often develops against the background of inflammatory processes, sexually transmitted diseases - their treatment has long been fast and successful with timely access to specialists.