21 WAYS TO CHECK IF YOU HAVE POOR PENIS ERECTION AND HOW YOU CAN OVERCOME IT
MALE IMPOTENCE AND ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
For many years I have always thought that male impotence or erectile dysfunction [ED] affects only old men, who have already enjoyed their youthful sex life and now there is need for retirement, just like menopause in older women.
I never thought men as young as 30 years or even younger could also suffer from ED.In our clinic , we have had to attend to so many men recently complaining of ED, this is worrying, but not as worrying as this young man’s case.
He came into my office, sat in front of me, and only asked for my patience for him to narrate his ordeal. Truely to his request, I had to make a great effort to sit still for one hour to listen to his long sorrowful story.
I will abbreviate, he told me that he had always enjoyed his sex life from his college days, until he contracted venereal disease. After the successful treatment, he noticed that he does not always keep a strong erection, after some years he could not even keep an erection at all. He went to different hospitals , both orthodox and unorthodox, to seek help, but to no avail.
In fear of not embarrassing himself, he tried to avoid marriage, but as an African , if he is not married, tongues will start wagging. So he took this young beautiful lady to the alter, and got married.
Unfortunately, he could not even get his weak penis into his young pretty wife’s inviting vagina. After one year of tolerating him and the sexless marriage, the young lady ran away.
Sexual impotence is perhaps the most poorly understood and mismanaged of all medical disorders.
Two factors are responsible for this unfortunate state of affairs.
1. Ignorance, myths, superstition, guilt and the stigma and taboo attached to anything sexual in the minds of the people.
2. Abysmal sexual ignorance : on account of which people continue to believe that impotence is something that is largely psychological in origin.
These two factors explain why most cases of impotence do not come to light and why the few that do are grossly mismanaged. It is not surprising, therefore, that the general impression is that impotence is something largely incurable.This is unfortunate because not only are most cases of impotence NOT psychological in origin but most are EMINENTLY CURABLE as well.
WHAT IS ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) means that you cannot get and/or maintain an erection. In some cases the penis becomes partly erect, but not hard enough to have sex properly. In some cases, there is no swelling or fullness of the penis at all. ED is sometimes called impotence.
HOW COMMON IS ERECTLE DYSFUNCTION?
Most men have odd times when they cannot get an erection. For example, you may not get an erection so easily if you are tired, stressed, distracted, or have drunk too much alcohol. For most men it is only temporary, and an erection occurs most times when you are sexually aroused.
However, some men have persistent, or recurring, ED. It can occur at any age, but becomes more common with increasing age. About half of men between the age of 40 and 70 have ED. About 7 in 10 men aged 70 and above have ED.Contrary to popular belief, impotence is almost never an ‘all or none’ phenomenon. Most laymen (and several doctors) believe that a man can either have an erection of very good quality or none at all. Nothing can be farther from the truth. Most men with erectile dysfunction have normal desire and can obtain an erection, only the erection is not hard enough or doesn’t last long enough, Hence the term erectile dysfunction (which suggests partial loss) is preferred to impotence (which suggests a total loss). Not many are aware that in most cases organic rather than psychological causes are responsible.
WHAT IS AN ERECTION?
A man gets an erection when the penis enlarges and stiffens.It is a complex process that happens as a result of changes within the muscles, nerves and blood vessels of the penis.The regulation of blood flow into and out of the penis is what makes an erection possible.
1. Specialised tissues in the shaft of the penis trap blood. This increases the pressure within the penis and causes it to lengthen and then become firm.
2. Following orgasm or the withdrawal of sexual stimulation, the process is reversed. Blood flows out of the penis and back into your circulation so the penis becomes soft.
THE ANATOMY OF THE PENIS
Each corpus cavernosum runs from the base of the glans along the length of the penis.Cross-section of the penis showing the position of the corpora cavernosa.Corpora cavernosa: two cylindrical tissues run the length of either side of the penis. Like sponges, they are capable of filling with blood. When the penis is soft, the muscle fibres in the corpora are contracted.Tunica: a tough outer sheath that surrounds the corpora and limits the amount they can expand. As the tunica becomes tight, blood flowing into the penis raises the pressure within it, making it hard.Corpus spongeosum: a third cylinder of tissue between the two corpora. This contains the urethra, through which urine and semen pass out of the body. It thickens towards the tip of the penis to form the helmet-shaped glans, which is covered by foreskin in uncircumcised men.
HOW AN ERECTION HAPPENS
1. Touch, sights, sounds, erotic memories, fantasies etc, cause sexual excitement.
2. These stimuli increase signal output from a part of the brain called the para-ventricular nucleus.
3. These signals then pass through special autonomic nerves in the spinal cord, the pelvic nerves and the cavernous nerves that run along the prostate gland to reach the corpora cavernosa and the arteries that supply them with blood.
4. In response to these signals, the muscle fibres in the corpora relax, allowing blood to fill the spaces between them.
5. Muscle fibres in the arteries that supply the penis also relax, and there is an eight-fold increase in blood flow to the penis. The increased blood flow expands the corpora, then stretches the surrounding sheath (the tunica).
6. As the tunica stretches, it blocks off the veins that take blood away from the corpora cavernosa. This traps blood within the penis, the pressure becomes very high and the penis becomes erect.
7. During an erection pressure in the penis is at least twice the pressure of blood in the main circulation. This is possible because the muscles of the pelvic floor contract around the base of the corpora cavernosa.
8. At orgasm, the signalling from the brain changes dramatically. There is a sudden increase in noradrenaline production from nerves in the genitalia. This seems to both trigger orgasm and contract the muscle fibres in the corpora cavernosa and their supplying arteries.
9. The pressure within the corpora drops, which also relaxes the tunica and so allows blood to flow out of the penis. The inability to get or sustain an erection can happen as a result of one or more of these processes breaking down. Fortunately, there are treatments available for erectile dysfunction.
CAUSES OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
There are several causes which tend to be grouped into ‘physical’ and ‘psychological’.
PHYSICAL CAUSES
About 8 in 10 cases of ED are due to a physical cause. If the ED is due to a physical cause, you are likely to still have a normal sex drive (libido). Causes include:
[1] Reduced blood flow to the penis. Like in other parts of the body, the arteries which take blood to the penis can become narrowed. The blood flow may then not be enough to cause an erection. ‘Risk factors’ can increase your chance of ‘narrowing of the arteries’. These include: getting older; high blood pressure; high cholesterol; smoking; diabetes.
[2] Diseases which affect the nerves going to the penis. For example, multiple sclerosis, a stroke, etc.
[3] Diabetes. This is one of the commonest causes of ED. Diabetes can affect blood vessels and nerves.
[4] Injury to the nerves going to the penis. For example, spinal injury, following surgery to nearby structures, fractured pelvis, radiotherapy to the genital area, etc.
[5] Side-effect of certain medicines. The most common are: some antidepressants; betablockers such as propranolol, atenolol etc; some diuretics (‘water tablets’); cimetidine. Many other less commonly used tablets sometimes cause ED.
[6] Alcohol and drug abuse.
[7] Cycling. ED after long distance cycling is thought to be common. It is probably due to pressure on the nerves going to the penis from sitting on the saddle for long periods. This may affect the function of the nerve after the ride.
[8] Hormone causes . For example, a lack of a hormone called testosterone which is made in the testes.
JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX, Ikotun Lagos Nigeria, offer comprehensive infertility screening tests for both couples like Transvaginal Scan for uterine and ovarian functions,Ovulation/follicular tracking, HSG to evaluate the fallopian tubes, blood tests for hormone check, semen analysis etc. We also offer a simple assisted reproductive procedure like INTRAUTERINE INSEMINATION [IUI].
For accurate assessment of your fertility situation, contact us at JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX, Ikotun Lagos Nigeria.
For FREE Consultation and FREE Counseling. Also for Quality and Accurate Medical Diagnostic Tests Contact
JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX
JOAS MEDICAL DIAGNOSTIX——-WE ARE AN ULTRAMODERN MEDICAL IMAGING CENTER. WE ARE EXPERTS IN ULTRASOUND SCAN SERVICES, 3D/4D COLOUR DOPPLER SCAN SERVICES, X-RAY/RADIOLOGY SERVICES, ECG SERVICES, INFERTILITY SERVICES, HSG SERVICES, LABORATORY SERVICES,BLOOD BANKING SERVICES , DNA SERVICES, AND HEALTH CONSULTANCY/COUNSELLING SERVICES.
We are located at
JOAS HOUSE, 2, Okesuna Street,
Opposite The Synagogue Church Busstop,
Bolorunpelu, Ikotun, Lagos
Postcode: 100265
Nigeria.
TEL:
08032509975,
08184590752,
08058166504,
08064981455
EMAIL:
joasmedicaldiagnostix@yahoo.com
joasmedicaldiagnostix@gmail.com
DISCLAIMER
The contents, blogs and postings provided in this site are offered strictly for informational purposes only and should not be construed as legal, medical nor financial advice on any matter. We have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, and if you have any questions regarding the contents please contact us.
The informations provided in this site is subject to change without notice.
This site may contain links to other internet sites, we are not responsible for the privacy, practices nor the content of such sites, nor their relationships