Male Impotence

Contents:

• Impotence
• Physical Causes of Impotence
• Treatment of Physical Impotence
• Psychological Causes of Impotence
• Premature Ejaculation
• Retarded Ejaculation

Impotence

The word impotence is derived from the Latin impotentia, meaning lack of power. It was first used to describe loss of sexual power in 1655 in, of all places, a treatise entitled 'Church History of Britain' by Thomas Fuller.

Impotence is the inability to obtain or maintain an erection for the satisfactory completion of heterosexual vaginal intercourse. Satisfactory is usually taken to mean an adequate erection, of sufficient hardness, maintained for a sufficient length of time, that ends in a controlled ejaculation and provides sexual satisfaction for both partners.

Impotence is a common and distressing condition affecting 10 to 30 per cent of men on a regular basis. All age groups are involved, but due to embarrassment or a mistaken belief that nothing can be done, victims often suffer in silence and despair. Whatever the cause of impotence, 99 per cent of men can get their erections back by one of the many treatment options now available.

It is often assumed that impotence is a purely psychological problem, but in 40 per cent of cases a physical cause is involved. If a man awakes with a morning erection or can masturbate to orgasm when alone, the problem is more likely to be psychological rather than physical.

If a male never manages an erection, even on waking, a physical problem is likely and this must be carefully looked into by a doctor specializing in urology.

During a night's sleep, between four and eight erections occur naturally unless there is a physical blockage preventing them. A special device can be attached to the penis before going to sleep that regularly measures penile diameter and rigidity throughout the night. This is useful for differentiating between physical and psychological causes of impotence.

Often, however, both physical and psychological factors play a role as a vicious circle builds up that causes anxiety and negative feelings to set in.

Next: Physical Causes of Impotence

Last updated: 10/05

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