What is Impotency?

Impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED) is a sexual dysfunction where a man has erection difficulties, including inability to get an erection, maintaining one strong enough to have intercourse and losing an erection. Premature ejaculation and infertility are separate conditions, and are not impotency; impotency can be treated with medication, like sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis) and vardenafil (Levitra).

Definition

The time frame of an erection problem determines whether it is considered impotency. Most men have temporary problems; however, they usually go away with little or no treatment. If an erection problem occurs more than 25 percent of the time, then it is considered impotency. Men who suffer from impotency can use phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors to achieve an erection. However, these drugs only work when the man is sexually aroused.

Causes

Impotency can be caused by both medical conditions and medicines. Men who have diabetes, high blood pressure, poor blood flow, neurological conditions, and heart or thyroid conditions are at risk of impotency. Depression has also been linked to impotency. Nerve damage, such as through prostate surgery or spinal cord injury, can physically prevent an erection. In addition, certain medications can interfere with an erection, such as blood pressure medications, heart medications, peptic ulcer medications, sleeping pills and antidepressants; switching medication may cease impotency. Also, use of nicotine, alcohol and cocaine can also lead to impotency.

Physical or Psychological

Impotency can be either physical, where the man cannot get an erection due to nerve damage or other physical cause, or psychological, where an emotional barrier is the problem. To determine whether impotency is physical or psychological, check for nighttime erections. Men have three to five erections per night, each of them lasting 30 minutes. Put a paper ring around the penis before going to sleep. If the paper is ripped, then the problem is psychological. If the paper is intact, then the problem is physical.