Viagra and indeed Cialis Is Not A Cure For Impotence
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is most assuredly impotence in that a man who is unable to have an erection is impotent in the sense that he cannot perform sexually. Viagra (sildenafil) has been a medical solution for more than 23,000,000 men who have recovered their sexual abilities with it. Therefore, is it safe to say that Viagra is a cure for impotence?
In reality, Viagra is not a cure for impotence per se, but it is a cure for one of the primary causes of impotence: inadequate blood flow to the penis due to an excess of an enzyme called phosphodieterase type 5 or PDE5. Viagra causes increased levels of another enzyme called cyclic guanosine monophosphate or cGMP which inhibits the PDE5 and thus permits smooth muscle relaxation leading to increased blood flow and erection.
Physical causes of impotence
There are numerous possible causes of impotence in men that can be physical, psychological or a combination of the two. Physical causes from diseases include diabetes, kidney disease, vascular disease, neurological disorders and prostate cancer, all of which in some way contribute to effects that result in impotence. Other physical causes which are not related to disease include surgery performed in order to treat prostate or bladder cancer; injuries to the spinal cord, bladder or penis; venous leaks that cause blood to leave the penis and therefore prevent sustaining an erection; hormonal imbalances that prevent a man from becoming sexually aroused; excessive use of alcohol, tobacco or drugs; an enlarged prostate due to BPH and even a number of prescription drugs prescribed by a doctor for other conditions.
Erectile dysfunction can also result from high blood pressure; heart disease; high cholesterol and stress.
Psychological causes of impotence
Somewhere around 10-20% of all ED cases have a psychological basis or are due to the secondary reaction from a physical problem. The psychological problems may have been in place as far back as early childhood as a result of sexual abuse or trauma that is lodged deep within the person’s subconscious mind. However the most common psychological roots of ED include indifference due to advanced age, a poor relationship or medications; anxiety arising from a single (perhaps alcohol induced) failure that results in “performance anxiety” or fear of failing sexually; guilt resulting from an extramarital affair or a feeling that a man cannot satisfy his partner; low self esteem from a variety of lifetime issues; and depression resulting from business failures, financial problems or other factors not related to sexual performance.
Whether the problem is physical or psychological, proper medical consultation and care is indicated. For some psychological problems, therapy from a professional psychologist or psychiatrist may be the only solution.
The ‘little blue pill’, Viagra, is a wonder indeed for 50-75% of men suffering from ED, but it is not the cure for all erectile by any means but it can help you to enjoy an active sex life once more which for many men is the reason Viagra is so popular
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