IMPOTENCE
How Is Impotence Diagnosed?
Medical and sexual histories
help define the degree and nature of impotence. A medical history can
disclose
diseases that lead to impotence. A simple recounting of sexual activity
might distinguish
between problems with erection, ejaculation, orgasm, or sexual desire. A history of using certain
prescription drugs or illegal drugs can suggest a chemical cause. Drug
effects
account for 25 percent of cases of impotence. Cutting back on or
substituting
certain medications often can alleviate the problem. Physical
Examination A physical examination can
give clues for systemic problems. For example, if the penis does not
respond as
expected to certain touching, a problem in the nervous system may be a
cause.
Abnormal secondary sex characteristics, such as hair pattern, can point
to
hormonal problems, which would mean the endocrine system is involved. A
circulatory problem might be indicated by, for example, an aneurysm in
the
abdomen. And unusual characteristics of the penis itself could suggest
the root
of the impotence for example, bending of the penis during erection
could be the
result of Peyronie's disease. Laboratory Tests
Tests for systemic diseases include blood counts, urinalysis, lipid profile, and measurements of creatinine and liver enzymes. For cases of low sexual desire, measurement of testosterone in the blood can yield information about problems with the endocrine system. Other Tests Monitoring erections that
occur during sleep (nocturnal penile tumescence) can help rule out
certain
psychological causes of impotence. Healthy men have involuntary
erections
during sleep. If nocturnal erections do not occur, then the cause of
impotence
is likely to be physical rather than psychological. Tests of nocturnal
erections are not completely reliable, however. Scientists have not
standardized such tests and have not determined when they should be
applied for
best results. Psychological
Examination A psychosocial examination,
using an interview and questionnaire, reveals psychological factors.
The man's
sexual partner also may be interviewed to determine expectations and
perceptions encountered during sexual intercourse. Impotence Aids
/Treatment For Impotence It's important to remember
that over the past few years there have been major advances in the
treatment of
impotence and the majority of sufferers can now be treated effectively.
Discuss the
problem with
your partner - a problem shared is a problem halved. For
example, it may be
your partner is unintentionally putting pressure on you to "perform".
Discussing the problem with them may relieve this pressure and enable
you to
have an erection again. Look at your
lifestyle. Are
you a heavy smoker? Do you drink a lot of alcohol? Do you suffer from
stress
and anxiety? Cutting down on your alcohol intake or giving up smoking
could
make all the difference. Try to reduce stress and anxiety by finding
ways to
relax. If the problem persists, see
your GP. You could also ask to be referred to a clinic that deals with
sexual
dysfunction. You can get a list of your local clinics from the Sexual
Dysfunction Association. Psychosexual
therapy. When
psychological factors or relationship problems are considered to be the
cause
of your impotence, a course of sex therapy or couples therapy might be
recommended. Therapy's very useful in helping you to re-establish a
sexual
relationship with your partner when there's been a long period without
sex. Vacuum pumps.
A device
involving a plastic cylinder and pump is used to make blood rush to
your penis,
enlarging it in a similar way to an erection. When you remove the pump,
the
erection is sustained by slipping a tension ring around the base of the
penis. Injections.
You or your
partner will be taught by a nurse or doctor to inject a drug directly
into the
shaft of the penis when you want an erection. An erection usually
follows
within 15 minutes. The procedure is easy to learn. Transurethral
therapy (Muse).
This involves taking a small pellet of a drug, about half the size of a
grain
of rice, via the urethra (the tube through which urine is passed) using
a
special disposable applicator. The drug is absorbed through the urethra
directly into the erectile tissue of the penis, giving an erection
within five
to ten minutes. Viagra.
This drug is taken
in tablet form one hour before sexual activity. It then remains active
for
three to four hours. Viagra won't work without sexual stimulation. It's
not an
aphrodisiac and doesn't increase sexual desire. Uprima.
Uprima is a tablet
which is taken under the tongue. You place the tablet under your tongue
and
wait for it to dissolve, which can take about ten minutes. It acts
within 15 to
25 minutes and can be effective for up to two hours. Uprima won't work
without
sexual stimulation. Cialis.
This drug comes in
tablet form and can be taken from 30 minutes before sexual activity.
With
sexual stimulation Cialis may be effective for up to 36 hours after
taking the
tablet. Like Viagra, it's not an aphrodisiac and doesn't increase
sexual desire. Levitra.
This tablet should
be taken ten minutes to one hour before sexual activity. With sexual
stimulation Levitra can be effective up to 12 hours after taking the
tablet.
Like Viagra and Cialis it is not an aphrodisiac and does not increase
sexual
desire. Hormone treatment.
Only a
small proportion of cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by hormone
abnormalities. The most frequent hormone abnormality is a reduced level
of the
male sex hormone testosterone which can be restored by appropriate
hormone
replacement. It's unwise to take testosterone preparations unless
you've had
tests that confirm a deficiency. Penile prosthesis.
You
shouldn't consider a prosthesis (implant) until other forms of
treatment have
been tried. There are two types of implant. The semi-rigid type keeps
the penis
rigid all the time but lets you bend it downwards when you're not
having sex.
The hydraulic type is more sophisticated and causes the penis to
stiffen when a
pump (implanted in the scrotum) is activated. Surgical treatment.
A few
cases of impotence are caused by abnormalities in blood flow in and out
of the
penis and can be treated with surgery. Introducing... ERECTIFY
XL
So how can ERECTIFY XLTM improve
your sex life?
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