Impotence, also called erectile dysfunction (ED), is the inability to maintain an erect penis long enough to have intercourse. It can happen to a man at any time in life, but is more likely after age 60. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Clearinghouse reports that between 15 and 30 million American men suffer from ED, but that it is treatable at any age. Prolonged impotence, however, can have profound emotional effects on a man.
Decreased Self-Esteem
It is possible for a man to tie his self-worth in with his sexual prowess. The Mayo Clinic explains that this can lead to low self-esteem when impotence strikes. Growing up in a culture that values sexual ability, or having a partner who belittles the man, can contribute to these feelings.
Anxiety
Performance anxiety can worsen into generalized anxiety disorder. When a man has significant emotional distress due to not being able to sustain an erection, he may create a pattern of dread and worry that perpetuates his inability to perform as he wishes. Over time, this excessive worry can become clinical anxiety that is serious enough to merit treatment.
Depression
Another emotional effect of erectile dysfunction is depression. This is usually a consequence of prolonged low self-esteem. It is natural to have a drive to excel, and being unable to sustain an erection sufficient for intercourse causes some men to feel that they are a failure, setting them up for hopelessness and depression. The avoidance of intimacy may also play a part in becoming depressed.
Paranoia
Rarely, a man suffering from impotence will become paranoid that his partner is seeking out other sexual partners. Placing undue importance on the sexual act, he may make the leap from wondering whether his partner wants to stray into believing that she is. Other men in her life may seem threatening, and he may begin to feel that others are talking about him or laughing behind his back. The odds of paranoia increase if the partner expresses dissatisfaction with the man's sexual inability.
References
- National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse: Erectile Dysfunction
- Mayo Clinic: Erectile Dysfunction
- "Medical-Surgical Nursing;" Donna Ignatavicius, M.S., R.N. and Linda Workman, Ph.D., R.N.; 2002
