The Erection Mechanism

Secretion of nitric oxide is the physiological beginning of the erection process. Then the enzyme guanylate cyclase is activated and smooth muscle is relaxed in the penis.

The whole erection process passes several stages.
First sexual stimulation leads to smooth muscles relaxation in the penis. Arterioles dilate and blood can freely flow to the penis. Tissues engorged with blood induce pressure to the veins and hence prevent backward blood flow. Full of blood the penis thickens and elongates and moves upwards under the action of erector muscle.

Causes of Impotence

Physical factors cause the diseases much more often than physiological factors do. But psychological factors often block the erection even when the physical factor that caused the erectile dysfunction was eliminated.

Physical Factors

• Vascular Diseases
• Metabolic disorders
• Nerve Disease
• Cancer treatment
• Hormonal Problems
• Side Effects of Medications
• Alcohol: Long-term
• Smoking
• Sedentary Lifestyle

Psychological Factors

• Anxiety
• Stress
• Depression
• Relationship Problems

Diagnosis of Impotence
Diagnosis of impotence consists of several steps. First tests to identify the cause of the erectile dysfunction are performed. Blood tests allow to measure the amount of male hormones in the blood and to diagnose concomitants diseases such as diabetes and others.
Nerve sensation and arterial circulation are checked to ensure that this is not the cause. Other tests are undertaken to measure vascular pressure in the penis and to examine penile rigidity during nocturnal erections.

Treatment and care of impotence

Oral medications

PDE5 inhibitors sildenafil (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®) and tadalafil (Cialis®) are usually prescribed to block PDE5 and renew the action of the smooth muscle and penile arteries.

Oral medications (herbal remedies)
Herbal remedies like ProCalisX appear to be a combination of vitamins, herbs and mineral substances. They don’t have any side-effects and harmless to health.

Vacuum pump
It’s a device that helps to draw the blood to the penis and to maintain this state with the help of a ring that should be taken off in a half an hour or early. Some male prefer drugs and injection to vacuum pump as the erection provided by the vacuum pump is less rigid that natural one. But the continuous use of vacuum pump can renew the natural erectile ability.

Sex Counseling
Services that are provided by special tutors and counselor along with psychologists can help to identify and cope with the troubles that lead to unsatisfactory sexual intercourses.

Penile Injections
Penile injections are made right before the sexual intercourse into the penis in order to provide sufficient blood flow.

Penile Implant Surgery
A device can be implanted into the penis and used to achieve erection.

Intraurethral Therapy
Small beads with medications are inserted into the urethra to intensify the blood flow.

Controversial treatments

Bremelanotide is an experimental drug that used an alternative technology. While other drugs affect the vascular system bremelanotide increases sexual desire. Both men and women apply to this drug that is issued as a nasal spray.

hMaxi-K is a form of gene therapy that is based on a plasmid vector that expresses genes responsible for encoding Maxi-K channel.

Herbal and other alternative treatments On condition that the patient expects the result herbal and other alternative treatments are useful but provide no result when tested blind.

Precaution
It’s easy to prevent the disease and to improve the erectile ability by making several changes to everyday life.
Regular exercises, active lifestyle, avoidance of a sedentary life-style, quitting smoking, reduction of alcohol amount – all this will ensure a good eraction.