Impotency causes and solutions : There are an estimated twenty million men in the United States who suffer from impotency at some time in their lives. Impotency is also known as Erectile Dysfunction, or ED for short. It is defined as the inability to achieve or sustain an erection of the penis in order to have sexual intercourse. It doesn't matter what age or race a man is, as impotency happens because of a number of reasons. The usual reasons a man many experience a bout of impotency may include mental stress, physical stress, excessive consumption of alcohol, excessive use of tobacco, fatigue, mental anguish concerning sexual performance, or depression. Another cause of temporary impotency can be a negative side effect from a prescribed medication which the man is currently taking. These types of impotency are usually temporary and end when the cause is found and remedied. If, however, the period of impotency extends beyond a reasonable length of time, a visit to the doctor or healthcare professional is needed. There are many more-serious physical causes of impotency which may include, but are not limited to--diabetes, kidney disease, and a hormonal imbalance. The patient's doctor or healthcare professional will undoubtedly ask some questions about a man's sexual history so that he can properly diagnose the cause of the problem. The patient may possibly be run through a complete medical examination which may include some simple tests. A change of a prescription medicine may be in order if that is found to be causing the impotency problem. Or, if a hormonal imbalance is found, medication can be prescribed in order to successfully treat this problem. There are a number of other medical remedies for men today who suffer from impotency which can be used to alleviate this aggravating problem, also. As for the physical causes of impotency, most men can help to significantly decrease the risk of suffering from this problem by avoiding excessive tobacco use, excessive amounts of alcohol, and abstaining from illegal drug use. Men should try to follow a healthy diet which consists of plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole-grain bread products, and plenty of protein from sources such as lean red meat, milk, yogurt, and cheeses. Another important part of the problems of sexual impotency is the man having an open, honest communication with his spouse or sexual partner. Even though impotency can cause a deep effect on a man's ego, and cause him to have feelings of shame and embarrassment, communication is an essential factor in the healing process. Every man needs to effectively communicate these feelings to his spouse or sexual partner. This openness and honesty will not only enable the spouse or sexual partner to better understand the man's feelings, but it will also enable both the man and his spouse or sexual partner to understand what the problem is and why there is a lack of sexual intimacy existing between them. The man may choose to have his spouse or sexual partner with him when he visits the doctor's office. In conclusion, there can be many causes, both mental and physical, for male sexual impotency. But, a man does not need to suffer with this problem as there are many different medications as well as medical remedies available today to alleviate this problem.

What Is An Erection : The penis has three long tubes of cylindrical erectile tissue which , are connected together by fibrous tissue. Called corpora cavernosa these two identical sections run parallel along the sides of the penis with the third tube (corpus spongiosum) laying underneath. These three also surround the urethra the tube which transports either sperm or urine. All three masses are like sponges in that they contain large spaces between loose networks of tissue. When the penis is limp (doctors call this 'flaccid' or 'resting'), then the spaces collapse and the tissue is reduced (that's why it's smaller). However when you start to get an erection, blood flows into these spaces causing the penis to enlarge. Now in theory this happens because of physical or psychological stimulation, but try telling that to a teenage boy who gets one while slumbering through algebra! Anyway as blood enters there is also a temporary reduction in the rate and volume of blood leaving the penis. So as the arteries carrying blood to the penis dilate the veins leading away use funnel-shaped valves to restrict the outflow of blood. Then as the erectile tissue begins to enlarge additional pressure happens as the veins to be compressed against the surrounding tissue, which in turn further restricts the outflow of blood. Now during all this process the three tubes don't swell up by the same pressure. The underneath tube (remember it's called the corpus spongiosum) doesn't become as hard as the two main sections (corpora cavernosa), if it did this would crush the urethra making it impossible to ejaculate (no thanks)! When this process is over your penis is becoming soft again as the arteries relaxed and contract.

Smoking & Impotence Go Together : Men with high blood pressure who smoke are 26 times more likely to have erectile dysfunction - impotence - than nonsmokers. Erectile dysfunction, or impotence, is the inability of a man to achieve an erection or to complete intercourse, he said, and affects an estimated 30 million Americans. Cigarette smoking, hypertension and erectile dysfunction are common disorders in primary care, and informing men who smoke of the exceptionally high possibility of developing erectile dysfunction may motivate many to quit their tobacco habit : the more cigarettes smoked per day the greater the chance of impotence.

Treatments for erectile dysfunction : Treatments for erectile dysfunction in 2004 include: Working with doctors to select medications that do not impair erectile function, Making life style improvements (for example; quitting smoking, and exercising more), Drugs such as sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra) or tadalafil (Cialis), Inserting medications into the urethra (intraurethral suppositories), Injecting medications into the corpora cavernosae (intracavernosal injections), Vacuum constrictive devices for the penis, Penile prostheses, and Psychotherapy.