Male Impotence

Impotence is the failure of a man to achieve or maintain an erection, and is more common in older men. Sometimes this term 'impotence' is also used when a man can have an erection but cannot ejaculate semen. Modern sciences have defined impotence as; ‘an inability to perform the sexual act, because of either a failure to initiate or sustain an erection or a failure to ejaculate intra-vaginally.’

According to the internationally recognized authority on sexual medicine and impotence, Dr. Sudhakar Krishnamurti; India is the impotence capital of the world, not just in sheer numbers but also in prevalence rates. Impotence affects over 50 per cent of males above 40, and contributing causes are heart disease, hypertension, excessive smoking and drinking. In India there has been a steep rise in heart ailments, and this has also been reflected in the rise in levels of impotency.

Short temperedness, long hours of work, insufficient sleep and mental exertion are some of the other causes for erectile dysfunction.

• Arteriogenic -Where the arteries supplying blood to the penis do not bring in enough blood to cause an erection
• Venogenic -Where the veins of the penis leak blood and prevent the development of a rigid erection
• Neurogenic -Injuries to the back, especially if they involve the vertebral column and the spinal cord can hamper the nerve supply to the penis causing impotence
• Endocrinologic -This occurs when there is an imbalance or insufficient sex hormones
• Psychogenic -When there is no organic factor and the problem lies purely in the mind, it is labelled a case of psychogenic impotence