The inability to achieve and maintain an erection of sufficient quality for satisfactory intercourse is called impotence. Impotence is a symptom of various conditions and is associated with aging. According to NOVA, 30 million men in the United States suffer from impotence. The causes and risk factors are influenced by multiple conditions.
Vascular Disease
Patients with vascular disease are likely to be affected by impotence. Damage from arteriosclerosis and atherosclerosis diminish the blood supply to the penis. According to HealthCommunities.com, arteriosclerosis accounts for 50 to 60 percent of impotence in men over 60. The cause of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is damage to the lining of the artery walls. Common risk factors for arteriosclerosis include smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure. Atherosclerosis is the depositing of fatty substances on the arterial wall, causing blockage in the vessel. Patients who smoke are at the greatest risk of damage to the arterial vessels because of nicotine. Nicotine damages the lining of the artery, which then allows fatty deposits to accumulate and narrow the artery even more. The diminished blood supply to the penis causes erectile dysfunction.
Medications
Medications for high blood pressure, antidepressants, tranquilizers, sedatives and heart medications can cause impotence. HealthCommunities.com reports that there are 200 commonly prescribed drugs that contribute to impotence. Alcohol overuse or abuse is also a risk factor for impotence. While mild alcohol use can enhance libido, one too many can cause interruption of the signals from the brain to the penis. Long-term alcohol use damages the nerves in the penis and can result in alcoholic impotence. The use of illicit drugs can also damage the nerves in the penis and cause erectile problems.
Hormone Imbalance
Less than 5 percent of cases of impotence are due to hormone disorders, notes HealthCommunities.com. In the rare case of testosterone deficiency, loss of desire and loss of erection can occur. Patients with kidney or liver disease may suffer from an imbalance of hormones that result in impotence. An overactive pituitary gland can reduce testosterone levels with an excess of the hormone prolactin, causing erectile dysfunction. Excess prolactin can cause the breasts to secrete a milky substance. Men should discuss this finding with their health care provider. Hormone imbalances are diagnosed with blood tests.
