14 DAY TRIAL // Nothing hurts a man more than this. The diagnosis of impotence (sexual dysfunction) in men requires a check of the genital area and a blood analysis to assess the levels of prolactin and testosterone, to see if the patient has endocrine problems, and tests of the erectile response after an injection of vasodilatory drugs.
To these are added radiologies and echographies to measure the penis' arterial pressure.
Here are 10 factors in fighting against impotence:
1. Prevention: changing unhealthy life habits: smoking, alcohol drinking, unbalanced diets. Controlling diseases (diabetes, cholesterol, and others) and minimize the symptoms.
2. Psychotherapy: It is recommended especially in the cases that lack organic factors. This therapy, accompanied by oral drugs, helps bypass the fear of failing to get an erection.
3. Vasodilatory oral drugs, like Viagra, which increase the blood flow in the penis, which help a man maintain the erection for a certain time. The apomorphin chlorhydrin, traded from 2001, acts on the central nervous system. Yohimbine, extracted from a west African tree, has been employed in folk medicine for years, and its efficacy against impotence was proven.
4. Vacuum apparatuses and constrictor rings: these are suction gadgets made with a plastic tube in which the penis is introduced. The mechanism produces the vacuum and sucks up the penis, which this way is filled with blood. Following this, the gum ring is put at the base of the penis to avoid the blood from escaping.
5. Drug injections in the penis. They are made with drugs exclusively recommended by specialists, like the alprostadil. Patients auto-inject themselves after being trained by the specialist.
6. Vascular surgery, for impotence caused by artery dysfunctions or by penis veins problems.
7. Prosthesis. It is the last option and the most invasive. Moreover, it is irreversible, as it destroys all the erectile tissue.
8. Hormonal therapy, recommended when the impotence is due to low testosterone levels.
9. Miraculous treatments. Less than 10 % of the men suffering of impotence go to the doctor. Most of them look for "traditional" remedies, which should be employed with caution and skepticism. The legend proposes against impotence cures such as chilly peppers, chocolate, licorice, butter, anchovies, oysters, Spanish flies (the last one is the most harmful due to its prolonged vasodilatory effect).
10. Viagra. Approved in 1998 in Europe and US, this is the most effective oral drug against impotence. Its active principle, sildenafil, improves the potence. This is due to a cyclic chemical, GMP, which increases the blood flow in the penis during the sexual act. But this is not an aphrodisiac nor a hormone or a product that induces erection "per se"; it only helps when there is already sexual stimulation. Its action starts in 30 minutes after its intake and lasts up to 4 hours. More than a pill daily is not recommendable and that's only if the person is going to have sex, and always under medical prescription, as the side effects include digestive discomfort, headaches, facial blush, muscle pains, visual alterations ... of course, it is not indicated in case of heart disease.