Impotence is a condition that goes by many names. Many refer to it as ‘ED’, an acronym that stands for erectile dysfunction. Those who have a case of erectile dysfunction are unable to attain a significant erection, causing a lack of ability to perform when it comes to sexual intercourse. Many men feel that the problem is one that strips them of their manhood, and for that reason, it’s important to learn all that you can about the condition so that you can be prepared if you ever face a problem with it.

There are numerous reasons why one may experience a lack of erection. The causes range from physical conditions to underlying mental issues. While it can be tough to pin down exactly what is causing a case of erectile dysfunction, once the problem is discovered, it is often treatable. If the reason why one is experiencing erectile dysfunction lies in a psychological issue, physicians are often able to sidestep the problem by giving the patient a placebo that helps them to get over the fears and stress that may be causing the problem in the first place. The problem has permeated throughout culture since the dawn of man, and there have been plenty of home remedies that have been recommended to get over erectile dysfunction. Over the centuries, people have turned to many desperate and foolhardy solutions when it comes to overcoming ED, but a significant medical breakthrough that occurred in the late twentieth century heralded a new era of hope for those who suffer from the problem.

Viagra is a drug that has received much acclaim when it comes to helping those with erectile dysfunction to get over their problems. It was actually tested as a drug that was intended to be beneficial to the heart, but the doctors performing the study were shocked to find that many of the test subjects requested more of the medication in order to supplement their love life. Since then, the compound has been advertised to a high degree and most everybody knows Viagra as a drug that can often help one to achieve results when it comes to conquering impotence. In cases of erectile dysfunction that can not be treated by the medication, doctors often resort to the use of a pump-like device to help patients to overcome their problem. When pumps don’t work, surgical options are sometimes recommended to patients who have no other solution. The foremost thing to remember when considering the condition of erectile dysfunction is the fact that in almost all cases, the problem is treatable.

1. Open the lines of communication by expressing your concerns about sexual impotence. Many couples hold a “don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude about their sexual life. Even though sex is a major aspect of intimate relationships, many couples are too shy or embarrassed to bring up the subject of sex, much less the notion of sexual impotence. Sometimes one partner will refrain from discussing matters of sex for fear of embarrassing the other. The truth is that healthy adult relationships are marked by honest and communication. Ditch the embarrassment and be honest about how sexual impotence is affecting your relationship. The first step is to admit that sexual impotence is a part of your relationship.

2. Be open about your physical and psychological health. Once the issue of sexual impotence has been raised, it is time to be open about your physical and psychological health. Encourage your partner to visit a physician to rule out any physical problems that may be causing sexual impotence. Conditions that may result in male sexual impotence include diabetes, high blood pressure, and certain prescription drugs. Sometimes, sexual impotence is not the result of a physical condition, but a psychological state of mind. Stress, anxiety, fear and depression can all lead to sexual impotence. It is important for your partner to describe his physical and psychological health with honesty in order to find safe and effective treatment for male sexual impotence.

3. Inform yourself about treatment options for sexual impotence. The good news is that there now exist various viable treatment options that can greatly help with problems of sexual impotence. Learn about the different treatment options that are available, and discuss these different options openly with your partner.

4. Be honest with each other about your sexual needs. Many intimate relationships that are fraught with anxieties are the result of a lack of communication. Each partner needs to be honest about their sexual needs, especially when the issue of treatment options comes up. Learning how each partner feels about sex and their sexual needs can relieve much stress from the relationship, and it can be helpful in deciding between treatment options.

5. Approach treatment with optimism and support. If your partner is seeking professional medical or psychological treatment for sexual impotence, be optimistic and support your partner through the course of treatment. Don’t put extra pressure on your partner and try not to put all your hopes on one treatment or procedure. Instead strive to provide unconditional support for your partner throughout the course of treatment.

In fact, recent research studies indicate that smokers are nearly twice as likely to suffer from some form of erectile dysfunction. These studies even indicate that excessive exposure to second-hand cigarette smoke can also be responsible for causing sexual impotence difficulties. Why does smoking have such a strong impact on our body’s ability to function properly during sexual encounters? There are many reasons why smoking can cause problems with sexual impotence. First, health professionals believe that smoking upsets our body’s ability to function during sex because it disables our body’s ability to coordinate properly. Smoking can affect our vascular system, which is responsible for pumping blood into muscle tissue, and it can upset our nervous system, which is responsible for sending chemical messages and releasing specific hormones. Cigarette smoking can upset the body’s ability to coordinate the different messages that are sent by both our vascular and nervous system. This in turn can result in erectile dysfunction during sexual intercourse.

Another way that smoking cigarettes can upset a man’s ability to sustain an erection during sexual intercourse is due to the fact that smoking often leads to artery blockage. When arteries become blocked, the body’s ability to flow blood effectively throughout the body is greatly reduced. When arteries become blocked and blood flow becomes impossible, it can lead to a heart attack or stroke. But it can also lead to erectile dysfunction.

The harmful effects of smoking become compounded as the years pass. In recent studies, it was found that men who are long-term smokers are almost two times more likely to have experienced some form of sexual impotence. Even if the same men were not reporting any serious health threats such as lung disease or artery blockage, they were still more likely to have experienced some kind of impotence. The main culprit in the relationship between smoking and sex is related to the fact that smoking slows the body’s ability to flow blood efficiently throughout the body. This results in a decline of blood pressure in the penis, thus causing erectile disorder. There does exist good news: men who stop smoking report less incidence of impotence, and some report that after quitting they never experienced impotence again.

1. Joint commitment to each other and the treatment process. Couples that are successful in dealing with sexual impotence and other intimacy issues are committed to each other. Their relationship boasts a strong commitment to each other, and this commitment is often transferred to the treatment process.

2. A history of working together and problem solving. As a couple, how have you dealt with problems affecting your relationship in the past? Do you tend to ignore a problem, or deal with it head-on? Do you accuse each other, or work together to identify and solve the problem? Think about how you usually deal with problems as a couple. If working together and problem solving has not been a part of your relationship, it’s time to reconsider how you approach a problem as a couple.

3. How willing are you to have an open and frank discussion about sex? Many couples are unwilling to have an open dialogue about sex. Perhaps one partner feels that they don’t want to embarrass the other, or they are afraid of coming off as accusatory. Communication is key to treating sexual impotence. Each partner should strive to speak to the other with honesty, tact and warmth about any sexual intimacy problems that may arise as part of the relationship.

4. Are you willing to learn more about impotence as a couple? Male sexual impotence is not a “man’s” problem that one partner should have to solve on their own. Couples who learn about impotence and explore treatment options together are more likely to persevere until they have received satisfactory treatment. Both partners should be equally invested in this learning process and must be willing to seek out treatment as a couple.

5. Did you enjoy a healthy sexual relationship as a couple before sexual intimacy problems arose in the relationship? Couples who have sustained a long-term, healthy and open sexual relationship in the past are better armed to deal with problems that may arise in the future. Think about your sexual relationship history and determine whether you are ready to seek out treatment as a couple.

6. Are you still sexually attracted to each other? Couples who say they are still sexually attracted to each other are much more likely to seek out treatment for impotence and achieve satisfactory results. If each partner is still committed to the other and is invested in maintaining a vibrant sexual life, satisfactory treatment is more likely.

While many men believe that there is a physical problem with their member that is causing them to be unable to achieve an erection, a full twenty percent of all impotence cases are based purely within the mind. The brain is the part of the body that causes an erection to occur, so when the mind is unable to sufficiently deal with the idea of an erection, it can cause a case of erectile dysfunction. Psychologists have dubbed this type of impotence psychogenic impotence. While most men experience a case of psychological impotence at one point or another, an ongoing problem with achieving an erection that stems from the mind can be very damaging, and is a problem that requires help to be fixed. The main issue with psychogenic impotence is that once the problem occurs one time, there is often a domino effect that can cause a lack of erection far into the future. This is due to the fact that the man may feel timid and anxious, remembering the last time that they were unable to achieve an erection, causing them to be too nervous to achieve an erection the next time they have sexual contact. As the problem grows and grows, the idea that the man is unable to achieve an erection becomes concrete in his head, causing a complete lack of erection and a fear of sexual intimacy.

The most common cause of psychogenic impotence is a case of depression or anxiety. These two types of mental disorders can cause gloom to be present in a man’s mind when it comes to sexual activity, leading to a lack of performance. When it comes to treating this problem, the use of anti-anxiety drugs and anti-depressants are commonly used to curb the impotence. Also, it’s important to have a good line of communication with your sexual partner, which can create a comforting setting in which anxiety is not so prevalent. In a stress-free environment in which you feel stimulated and relaxed, an erection is likely to occur.

Another cause of psychogenic impotence that occurs frequently is having a high level of stress. When stress weighs heavy on our minds, we are unable to summon up the libido necessary to perform sexually. Fatigue can also play into a lack of erections, as when the body is weak, sexual desire can be lessened. All of these problems are usually solvable through the use of medications such as Viagra, but you may want to work at the underlying psychological causes of your problem in order to achieve a more natural and drug-free erection.

The type of PDE-5 inhibitor that you are probably the most familiar with is known as Viagra. Made by the Pfizer Corporation, the drug has been used for years to help men to achieve erections. It was one of the first PDE-5 inhibitors on the market, and millions of men have been aided by the pill. It’s an oral medication, and it begins to work within a half hour to an hour after ingestion. The erections experienced by the pill can last for up to four hours after the effects begin, and between sixty and seventy percent of all men with erectile dysfunction that take Viagra have been shown to benefit, even those who have had a long-term history of impotence.

Cialis was one of the next PDE-5 inhibitors to make it to the market. It was approved for use by the United States Food and Drug Administration late in 2003, and it was developed by a joint effort between the pharmaceutical company known as Eli Lilly and the bio-tech firm called ICOS. Similar to Viagra in many ways, it has a few benefits that put it ahead of Viagra, leading many to call it a form of ‘Super-Viagra”. Where Viagra takes a half hour to an hour before the effects are achieved, Cialis begins to work within ten to twenty minutes after ingestion. Also, the effects of Cialis last longer than Viagra, with erections attainable for a full thirty six hours after taking the pill. Food and alcohol consumption don’t affect the efficiency of the pill, and it’s beginning to erode Viagra’s market share as the top erection medication.

Last, but not least, in the types of PDE-5 inhibitors available is a drug known as Levitra. It’s a type of inhibitor that has shown to be of use for those who are unable to take Viagra. One negative aspect of Levitra is the fact that you need to watch what you eat before taking the pill. Clinical studies suggest that the pill is most effective when taken at least three hours after a meal, as food can interfere with its efficacy. The drug takes between thirty and sixty minutes to begin working and the effects can last for up to five hours.

Although Uprima shows great promise for treating erectile dysfunction disorders, it does have some side effect. There are two primary side effects that have been noted. These two side effects are nausea and hypertension. The nausea can range from mild to severe. Studies have shown that Uprima can also cause extreme drop in blood pressure that can result in fainting and weakness. These potential side effects may be greatly exacerbated by alcohol intake. Currently, the FDA is considering putting a warning label on Uprima to warn users about the dangers of alcohol use and taking Uprima.

What are the main differences between using Viagra and Uprima? Viagra has proved massively successful, although it too carries certain side effects and health risks. However, Uprima works differently than Viagra. One of the main differences between these two drugs is that Uprima tends to work faster. This is because Uprima is taken by dissolving under the tongue. This causes the effect of the drug to enter the blood stream faster than taking it in pill form. According to recent studies, Uprima takes effect in roughly 15 to 20 minutes. Compare this to Viagra, which can take up to an hour to take total effect.

In order to be prescribed Uprima, a patient must first be diagnosed with erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction is must be diagnosed by a physician; usually an urologist will perform the examination. The initial consultation will usually consist of a physical examination, and your physician may choose to order certain lab tests. The physician will probably take a sexual history. They will want to know whether you feel pain during an erection, if the erection is irregular, and whether you ever wake in the morning with an erection. These questions are meant to narrow the possibilities to find the underlying cause for erectile dysfunction. Erectile dysfunction can have several causes. The disorder may be physiological in nature, or it may have its roots in psychological problems. Whatever the underlying cause, working with your physician can help identify the problem and open the doors to successful treatment.

With the development of new treatments such as Viagra and now Oprima, erectile dysfunction patients now have more safe and effective treatment options than ever before. Your physician will help you find the right treatment option for your particular circumstances.

Myth #1: “Erectile dysfunction and other related male sexual dysfunction disorders means that a man is no longer virile or all that interested in sex.” This is false. The truth is that most male sexual dysfunction simply has to do with the inability for a man to sustain an erection. Many men are still able to ejaculate and orgasm. Moreover, male sexual dysfunction has nothing to do with virility or masculinity. Most men with male sexual dysfunction are still capable of producing sperm and procreate. Sexual dysfunction also has nothing to do with masculinity. For the most part, these conditions stem from a medically diagnosable condition.

Myth #2: “Erectile dysfunction is not that common.” The truth of the matter is that most men will experience some type of sexual dysfunction some time in their lifetime. Male sexual dysfunction is actually quite common. At the moment, it is estimated that nearly 100 million men around the world are experiencing some kind of sexual dysfunction.

Myth #3: “Most cases of erectile dysfunction have to do with some kind of psychological problem.” It appears that most cases of sexual dysfunction stem from a medically diagnosable condition. Roughly 70 to 80 percent of all cases have an underlying physical cause. The most common underlying causes for sexual dysfunction problems include high blood pressure, diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, neurological conditions, trauma or injury, vascular disorders, high cholesterol levels, prostate disease, cancer and gastric ulcers, just to name a few. A vast number of lifestyle choices may also be responsible for male sexual impotence. These include cigarette smoking, excessive consumption of alcohol, substance abuse, obesity, and other lifestyle factors.

Myth #4: “Erectile dysfunction just means you’re getting older. It’s just something to get used to.” Yes, it’s true that male sexual dysfunction becomes more prevalent as a man ages. But this does not mean that one must give up on an active sexual life. Older adults who desire an active, satisfying and healthy sexual life can choose to have one. There are now myriad treatment options that can help restore a couple’s sexual relationship. Moreover, it is simply not true that only older people experience sexual dysfunction. Many young men also experience sexual dysfunction.

Myth #5: “Getting treatment for erectile dysfunction is too embarrassing.” The truth is that getting medical attention for sexual dysfunction is usually not any more complicated than going to the doctor for more ‘routine’ reasons. The diagnosis of erectile dysfunction is not very invasive, and usually just consists of a routine medical examination.

1. “I’m not attractive to my partner any more.” Many women’s first reaction upon confronting her partner’s sexual dysfunction is to question their ability to “turn on” their partner. Women may begin to doubt their ability to appear attractive to their partner, and may practice feelings of self-blame. Of course, this is almost never the case. Male sexual impotence is usually triggered by a combination of physiological and psychological causes. A woman and her sense of physical attractiveness can never be directly responsible for triggering male sexual dysfunction.

2. “My partner is angry with me, and that’s why he can’t perform.” Some women may ascribe their partner’s sexual dysfunction to an unresolved conflict in the relationship. While it’s true that a man’s psychological state of mind can influence his ability to perform sexually, it is rarely the case that sheer anger can cause a man to experience erectile dysfunction.

3. “There’s something wrong with our relationship.” Again, sexual dysfunction can be strongly influenced by a man’s state of mind. If there is a problem with your emotional relationship, this may come into play in the bedroom. But male sexual dysfunction tends to be more complicated than that. Erectile dysfunction is usually caused by a combination of factors. A “bad” relationship cannot be solely responsible for erectile dysfunction.

4. “My partner must be suffering from a medical problem.” This is perhaps the most rational response a woman can have when confronting their partner’s inability to perform sexually. In fact, a great number (roughly 85 percent) of all cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by diagnosable medical conditions. Many, if not most, of those medical conditions can be treated so that both partners can regain their sexual relationship.

5. “Although I feel sorry for my partner, I am secretly relieved that he cannot perform sexually as in the past.” Some women may find themselves feeling relieved that their partner is no longer capable of performing at the same level as they once did. Why? Some women just don’t desire a sexual relationship at the same level that others do. They may find their emotional connection to their partner more sustaining than an active sexual relationship. They may view male sexual dysfunction and related disorders as welcome relief, and as an opportunity for strengthening non-sexual emotional bonds between both.

6. “My partner is getting older, so he can’t perform like before.” It’s true that sexual dysfunction becomes more prevalent with age, but that doesn’t mean you can’t have an active and healthy sexual life if both partners desire it so.

1. “I’m a failure as a man and as a lover if I can’t perform sexually.” Many men experience feelings of dejection, frustration and guilt when first confronted with the inability to perform sexually. Men who have enjoyed a lifetime of sexually fulfilling relationships may experience these feelings even more acutely than other men. Men who put a strong value on the notion of male virility and masculinity may have an especially hard time dealing with male sexual dysfunction. In order to get past these thoughts, men must be able to define their sense of masculinity in a way that is not inextricably linked with the ability to perform sexually. Moreover, thinking of oneself as a “failure” does not help solve the problem, but rather compounds difficulties with sexual dysfunction.

2. “I should avoid showing my partner affection, because then she will expect sexual intercourse, and I won’t be able to perform.” Many men will avoid intimacy as a result of sexual dysfunction. This stems from the belief that all forms of intimacy must inevitably lead to sexual intercourse. This thought also stems from the mistaken belief that withdrawing from one’s partner is the best way to deal with problems of sexual dysfunction. Men may choose to withdraw as a defense against embarrassing themselves and their partners. However, withdrawing from a life of intimacy usually just causes more problems. Many women will blame themselves for their partner’s lack of intimacy, and may come to blame themselves. Of course, no is to blame.

3. “There may be something wrong with my body if I can’t perform sexually.” Male sexual dysfunction many times does indicate that there is something physically wrong. In fact, most cases of sexual dysfunction do stem from a medically diagnosable condition. A man who is experiencing difficulty performing sexually should seek professional medical attention. This is perhaps the most rational and positive reaction a man can have when confronted with the signs of sexual dysfunction.

4. “I’m older now, so it’s natural for me to experience trouble performing sexually. I just need to get used to it.” It’s true that the incidence of male sexual dysfunction tends to increase with age. But this does not mean that an active, healthy and satisfying sexual life is no longer possible. With the advent of new and effective treatments now available, there is no reason by an older man cannot sustain a satisfying sexual life.

5. “If I am unable to satisfy my partner sexually, she will think I’m a failure and leave me.” Most of the time, this belief is unfounded. It merely stems from feelings of guilt and self-doubt. The truth is that most of the time women will tend to blame themselves for incidences of sexual dysfunction in the relationship.