What are the treatments for impotence?

Before going deep into the treatments for impotence (mati pucuk), you have to first understand what is impotence and its causes. Impotence is generally called erectile dysfunction when your penis is unable to get erect and maintain an erection which is satisfactory for sexual intercourse. According to DSM 5 criteria, you will need to have this problem for a minimum duration of 6 months to get diagnosed with erectile dysfunction.

Impotence can be caused by basically 3 different factors, namely physical, psychological and hormonal factors. Risk factors such as having hypertension, high blood cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, obesity and practicing a sedentary lifestyle are categorized under physical factors. These conditions may cause narrowing of your blood supply to the penis causing impotence.

On the other hand, psychological conditions such as anxiety, stress and depression can lead to impotence as well. Apart from that, surgical and physical trauma may also impact your blood supply to the penis. Now you have understood what is impotence and its causes, let’s now go through the treatment options for erectile dysfunction.

1. Lifestyle modifications

Patients who are suffering from medical comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension, need to get them controlled with proper lifestyle changes and medications. Get regular follow ups in your nearby clinics to ensure your treatment is optimized and your readings are under control.

If you are a smoker, you probably need to quit smoking to prevent worsening of erectile dysfunction. Register yourself to a quit smoking clinic or try quitting them yourselves with simple yet efficient techniques. Maintain a balanced diet if you are in the obese category. Exercise regularly at least 3 to 5 times per week to keep your body fit as fiddle.

2. Medications

There are several medications your doctor will prescribe for your condition. The first will be sildenafil which is sold as viagra in the market. To understand the mechanism of this drug, you need to first understand how an erection happens under normal circumstances.

When there is a sexual stimulation, your blood vessel wall will start secreting nitric oxide which causes dilatation of blood vessels in your penis, pushing all capillaries and relaxing the smooth muscles in the surrounding. This prevents backflow of blood leading to erection of your penis. Viagra blocks the enzyme phosphodiesterase 5 that prevents this mechanism.

Other than sildenafil, other medications widely used for impotence are like Cialis, Levitra and Iqnyde. Another recently popular medication for erectile dysfunction is Alprostadil which contains prostaglandin allowing increased flow of blood. It is available in tablets, injection, cream and urethral suppository. Apply the cream at the tip of your penis and the surrounding for about 5 to 30 minutes before starting a sexual intercourse. While for the injection method, a syringe will be provided together and your doctor will teach you the method thoroughly. Urethral suppository medications are used to reach immediate erection within 15 minutes after application.

3. Vacuum

Another option of treating erectile dysfunction is by using a vacuum. The plastic vacuum will apply pressure to increase the flow of blood supply to your penis. Gently place your penis in the plastic vacuum and wait for a few minutes. After an erection is achieved, remove the remaining air in the plastic vacuum. Once an erection is achieved, a small device similar to an appearance of a rubber band is placed at the end of your penis to maintain the erection. The plastic vacuum is then removed from your penis before embarking sexual intercourse. Bear in mind the rubber device has to be removed within 30 minutes of application to prevent swelling of penile soft tissue.