Impotence is a condition suffered by millions of men all over the world, the medical name for this is erectile dysfunction which occurs in men of all ages. Impotence is the inability to obtain and maintain an erection in order to have sexual intercourse. It is known that some men experience an erection but can’t maintain it for any significant period of time and some cannot get a penile response at all. Naturally this interferes with sexual relationships but and can be painful and the effects of this problem psychologically, can be devastating on relationships and a man’s self esteem. Sadly many men do not seek help with impotence because of the stigma attached to it and there has been, over the years, a great deal of embarrassment which comes with admitting that one has this particular problem. Many doctors believe that the problem may greatly under reported and widespread than generally believed.

For younger men the cause of the problem can be anything from a physical disorder to anxiety. Anxiety is possibly the main issue for younger men who are just beginning their sexual lives, but for middle aged men the issue can be more physical then anything else however, it has been shown that stress associated with this age range can also cause penile dysfunction. In older men erectile dysfunction can be a factor of age more than anything else. In older men the blood vessels that carry the blood to the penis is most likely to be the cause of the problem as they begin to deteriorate with age. In a smaller number of men the cause can be due to diabetes or some other preexisting physical illness, which is why it is important to consult a doctor before trying any erectile enhancing drug.

To understand impotence we need to have an understanding of how an erection occurs, this occurs when blood is pumped into the penis making it erect. Usually this happens when a man’s penis is being stimulated either physically or by thinking about sex. When this happens signals are sent down the spinal cord to the genitals causing the blood vessels in the penis to dilate and the blood vessels fill, making the penis erect. Many outside factors contribute to erectile dysfunction but research and development is continuing to address this problem. There are many prescription drugs that can help sufferers of impotence amongst which include Viagra and Cialis.