Coping With Psychological and Physical Impotence

Studies show that about 15-30 million men in the U.S. suffer from erectile dysfunction. You may think that impotence affects only older men. This is not completely true, as statistics show that men between 40-70 years of age suffer from impotence (in some form). Even if you are young, you can suffer from impotence due to factors such as medications, surgery or injury. Also, erectile dysfunction can be caused due to psychological factors.

However, it is important to remember that impotence is not a part of man's healthy aging process. Studies have shown that about 61 percent of men over the age of 60 still enjoyed a sexually active life. But one thing to note is that when you get older, you are more prone to have heart issues, blood pressure problems, diabetes and so on. Some of these conditions and/or their treatments can cause severe impotence in case of older men. Thus, severe erectile dysfunction affects older men more.

Erectile dysfunction has been known to exist from time immemorial. The problem is that most men are not at ease, when it comes to talking about this problem. You may think that there is some amount of social stigma attached to ED. But if you seek help, it can actually be treated!

Classification of Male Impotence or Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED or male impotence) is the inability to develop and maintain an erection for sufficient intercourse. 'Impotence' is also used in the classification of various sexual health problems, which may affect sexual drive, reproduction, desire, difficulty in reaching an orgasm etc.

Most men suffer from some impotence from time to time, and that is normal. Based of the severity of ED, it is classified as follows:

1. Mild ED: This is when you can sustain erections for a very short time.
2. Moderate ED: This is when you sustain erections, but it is irregular.
3. Severe ED: This is when you have no ability to achieve and/or sustain an erection. This can damage relationships and can cause mental agony too.

Physical and psychological impotence

Physical and psychological impotence are caused by varied scenarios. If you suffer from impotence due to medical problems like diabetes, injuries, side effects of medication, heart disease, then it is called physical impotence. In such cases, a urologist specializing in impotence can help you immensely. If you suffer from impotence due to some circumstances like stress, depression or something that is working on your mind, it is called psychological impotence. Irrespective of whether you suffer from psychological or physical impotence, behavioral therapy can help you. Behavioral therapy is normally suggested during the entire course of treatment, i.e., before, during and after the completion of your treatment. A healthy lifestyle that includes proper balanced diet and exercise programs can help/prevent male impotence.

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