Impotence, or erectile dysfunction, is any functional problem with an erection that makes it impossible to have sex, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Erectile dysfunction can involve a complete inability to have an erection, or it could just be an occasional problem, or it could mean a problem keeping an erection long enough to have sex. About 30 million men in the United States suffer from impotence and the risk rises as men age. The problem is often treated with drugs but the drugs don't always work, and some men have medical conditions that make drugs too risky to take. There are surgical and other options, however, to treat impotence.
Vacuums
A mechanical vacuum device can cause an erection by creating a partial vacuum in the penis, drawing blood into it to expand the penis, according to the NKUDIC. The penis is placed into a plastic cylinder and a pump is used to draw air out of the cylinder. The patient places an elastic ring at the base of the penis to prevent blood from flowing out of it and ruining the erection. The elastic ring can be worn for up to 30 minutes during sex and then it is removed. An erection achieved this way may not feel like a normal erection; the penis might be cold or numb or take on a purple color. There can also be bruising on the penis. The elastic ring blocks some of the semen so ejaculation may be weaker than normal.
Implants
Implanted devices can help many men with impotence, according to the NKUDIC. A malleable implant made of paired rods can be surgically inserted into the penis. The patient then manually adjusts the position of these rods to create an erection. They do not affect the length or the width of the penis. Inflatable implants are made of paired cylinders along with a small fluid tank and a pump, all of which are surgically implanted. The patient can inflate the cylinders to create an erection by pressing on the pump, which is located under the scrotum. Inflatable implants do extend the width and length of the penis a little. Implants carry a risk of infection and mechanical breakdown.
Surgery
Some men are candidates for surgery because they are relatively young and have a specific and limited blockage of an artery in the penis that is causing their impotence, according to the NKUDIC. Older men are rarely candidates because the blockages causing the impotence are usually widespread. The surgeon opens the penis to repair the blocked artery and restore blood flow to improve erections. In some cases, the veins that take blood out of the penis are blocked so that blood drains out of the penis more slowly and the penis stays erect longer. But this procedure is controversial and some experts doubt whether it works long term.
Other Options
Some men benefit from psychotherapy and behavior modification techniques, particularly if their impotence is caused by stress, anxiety, depression or relationship woes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Sometimes medications cause impotence and they can be switched to cure the problem. Healthy lifestyle habits that improve the circulation of blood can help solve erection problems by improving blood flow to the penis. Some measures to consider are quitting smoking, cutting back on alcohol, losing weight, and increasing exercise.
