What you need to know about Impotence
What is impotence (erectile dysfunction)?
Erectile dysfunction or impotence refers to the inability to have or keep an erection firm enough for sexual activity. Although erectile dysfunction is more common in the elderly, age is not an issue. In approximately 75% of cases there is a physical reason for the problem.
Impotence is a reason to seek medical help with a general practitioner or an urologist . Unfortunately some men are reluctant or embarrassed to report their condition. As a result, they do not get the help they might have to resolve the problem. Or worse, they lose the opportunity to diagnose and treat a potentially serious health problem that may be related to changes in erection.
If you are a man who is experiencing sexual dysfunction, inform yourself that talking to your doctor can greatly help to resolve the issue.
Why you should see a doctor when you have erectile dysfunction?
There are two main reasons. The first is that erectile dysfunction can be treated and resolved. It affects you and your partner and can damage your relationship. This can lower your self-esteem and take your partner to question about her own sexual desire.
There are medications specifically used to treat impotence. Finding the solution may be simpler than you think. It may come down to take a pill prescribed by a doctor. But even if your condition is not resolved with the use of oral medications, there are other treatment options such as injections, surgery, penile implants and vacuum devices that increase the flow of blood to the penis.
The second reason for seeking a doctor is that impotence may be a sign of other more serious diseases such as hypertension , atherosclerosis or diabetes mellitus may be related to any medication you are using or be the result of any previous surgery on the prostate or radiotherapy .
Since these conditions are diagnosed, they can be treated, improved or resolved.
If there is a psychological cause, the doctor can help you find a psychologist or a psychotherapist, which is an important support for those who are living this experience.
Preparing to visit a doctor.
The first thing you should avoid is anxiety. Impotence is a common male condition. Doctors treat patients with cases similar to yours and are routinely use to support people in such situations. Make an appointment with a general practitioner or an urologist.
The next step is to make a list with the information you need to provide the doctor to evaluate your health. This list should include:
- All medications you are using, including prescription medications and drugs that you happen to use on your own as those sold without a prescription, or herbal teas and vitamins.
- Relevant facts about your impotence as when symptoms began, have appeared suddenly or gradually, it happens all the times you will have sex occasionally or only under certain circumstances.
- Important personal information. Is there any reason to stress that appeared recently in your life? Any change such as loss of employment, starting a new job, change of residence or a change of responsibility held at home or at work?
- Write down the questions you wish you could ask your doctor.
If you feel comfortable, invite your partner to accompany you to the doctor. She may give more information to the doctor, ask questions that help clarify your own questions and help you remember everything the doctor said during the consultation. But most important is that the doctor can help your partner understand what impotence means and it is not due to lack of sexual interest.
What are the most frequently asked questions that other men have gone through this situation asked the doctors?
Here are questions you may want to ask your doctor during the consultation on impotence.
- What can be causing my erection problems?
- The symptoms seem only temporary or chronic?
- Can my erectile dysfunction be treated?
- What are the treatment options?
- What if the treatment fails?
- Do I need to schedule an appointment with a specialist?
- Does my health insurance plan covers the treatment?
- Is there any change in my lifestyle that can help in my recovery?
- Do you have any printed information that I can read to learn more or for sites with relevant information that you can tell me to get more information from?
What will happen during the medical consultation?
Some men are afraid to introduce the subject to reach the office. But the best is to go right out and say “I think I may have an erectile dysfunction.” It is very unlikely that a GP does not feel comfortable talking about this with you, but along the query you feel that this is happening, ask if one knows an urologist who can help you.
The doctor will begin to ask you about your health history to learn more about the symptoms, health conditions and medications. Much of the information can seem extremely personal to you. But it is important and must be answered completely and honestly as this will help in the diagnosis and correct treatment.
Some questions that may arise during the consultation are:
- When have you had an erection recently?
- If you have had, was it firm enough to have sexual intercourse?
- When you start having a relationship, did you happen to lose the erection during intercourse? If so, she returned?
- Do you get an erection while masturbating?
- Have you ever woke up with an erection?
- Do you smoke? How many cigarettes per day and for how long?
- You have the habit of drinking alcohol? How many times a week? What kind of drink?
- Do you use drugs?
Following these initial reports, the doctor will do a physical examination, including examination of your penis and your prostate.
Laboratory tests may be needed to check if you have diabetes mellitus or cardiovascular disease related to erectile dysfunction.
If additional examinations or tests are required, the GP can refer you to an urologist .
In an urological consultation, you’ll probably be asked questions much like those described above and the urologist will also need information very similar to what you gave to the general practitioner.
Once you see a doctor and talk to him about impotence, the chances of you resolve your problem are very large.
