Impotence is not a death sentence

The ageing process is a curious one for many reasons, especially because it comes with a barrage of health issues that need to be confronted headlong as the biological clock ticks on.

In addition to other issues that accompany old age, experts say, erectile dysfunction happens to be another challenge that men — and, by implication, their partners — have to contend with.

Although opinions differ as to whether erectile dysfunction is unavoidable natural fallout of ageing, the fact still remains that it happens, especially as men cross the threshold of age 50.

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Indeed, according to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, United State of America approximately five per cent of 40-year-old men and between 15 to 25 per  cent of 65-year-old men experience erectile dysfunction.

This being the case, for men who are still able to hold their own sexually, we say bravo. However, for those who have noticed that their sexual prowess has diminished remarkably, physicians say there is hope.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Physicians describe erectile dysfunction — otherwise called impotence — as a medical condition in which the erection of the penis is not of sufficient quality for the certain interval of time required to have normal, full sexual intercourse. When erectile dysfunction occurs, doctors say, a man cannot fully satisfy both himself and his partner.

Worse still, experts in human anatomy warn that impotence could be a sign of other health problems, as it may mean that your blood vessels are clogged. They also advise that it may mean that you have nerve damage from diabetes.

In any or all of these cases, experts say, if you don’t see your doctor, the problems will go untreated and may worsen. “The most common problems related to sexual dysfunction in men include ejaculation disorders, erectile dysfunction and inhibited sexual desire,” physicians say.

Causes of ED

Experts contend that most men experience impotence during their sexual life; but they recommend seeking professional help when the problem becomes persistent.

Scientists say there are many reasons why men experience erectile dysfunction. Drug abuse is one of them.

General Practitioner, Dr. Hakeem Olajire, warns people that taking drugs — including the common pain killers — that are not prescribed by doctors over a period of time could lead to erectile dysfunction, among other side effects.

He notes that individual reactions to drug intake vary, and that some antidepressants and other psychiatric medications could lead to erectile dysfunction over time, hence the need to take all drugs under the supervision of a competent physician.

Drug-induced impotence

Olajire adds that other classes of drugs that may lead to ED include high blood pressure medicines and diuretics (drugs that make you urinate more), Parkinson’s disease medications, and recreational drugs such as alcohol, amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana, heroin and nicotine.

According to a research published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine, certain drugs that are used to treat male pattern hair loss and enlarged prostate may also produce side effects such as impotence and loss of libido in some men.

“These drugs work by reducing the amount of dihydrotestosterone circulating in the blood,” a surgeon and ED expert at the University of Maryland Medical Centre, Dr. Andrew Kramer, warns.

Dihydrotestosterone is the male sex hormone that helps maintain sex drive. Kramer posits that while the drugs may help with hair loss and alleviate urinary tract symptoms due to an enlarged prostate, the hormonal changes can also lead to the inability to get an erection.

Indeed, an online portal, the BBC Health, notes that around 70 per cent of impotence cases have medical causes and around 30 per cent have psychological causes. “Psychological and medical causes combined are responsible for the majority of cases,” the portal explains.

Hypertension

In addition, experts note that healthy blood vessels and sufficient blood flow are essential to getting and keeping an erection. However, they warn, uncontrolled hypertension damages blood vessels in the body, making them less elastic and less able to transport the same volume of blood quickly.

Again, experts say, stress, financial challenges and other psychological issues can cause ED.

The age factor

Olajire says biologically, testosterone, the principal male sex hormone, plays a key role in the development of male reproductive tissues such as the testes and prostate, as well as promoting secondary sexual characteristics such as increased muscle and bone mass and hair growth.

Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology, Oladapo Ashiru, notes that as a man ages, however, testosterone decreases, causing changes in his sexuality. “This includes loss of libido and impotence, which can result in the inability to gain or sustain an erection,” he states.

He adds that testosterone is important in regulating the frequency and magnitude of penile erection, such that the younger a man is, the easier it is to achieve and keep an erection.

Underlying concerns

Researchers from Australian National University, in a recent study published in the journal PLOS Medicine, found that the more severe a man’s erectile dysfunction is, the greater his risk of being hospitalised for heart problems.

They suggest that erectile dysfunction may be a marker that signals underlying heart disease. “It has been hypothesised that atherosclerosis (plaque in the arteries that limits blood flow) might first manifest itself in smaller blood vessels, such as those in the penis,” the researchers say.

The way out

A pharmacist, Mr. Ola Ijimakin, notes that, for many men, the answer to impotence is as simple as taking a pill. “Getting more exercise, losing weight or stopping smoking may also help,” he adds.

He notes that a drug, such as Vigomax Forte, is a rational aphrodisiac formulation that is safe simply because it is non-hormonal, and it is known to increase sexual desire, while also correcting sexual weaknesses.

Physicians note that the efficacy of any effective ED drug is its ability to reduce performance-related anxiety, promote strength and stamina, while also increasing testosterone levels.

- Solaade Ayo-Aderele/Punch

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