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Physical Causes of Impotency

According to menstuff.org, as of 2008, eighteen million men in the United States between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from impotency. Impotency, also known as erectile dysfunction, is the inability to get or keep an erection for sexual intercourse. This problem can severely impede relationships and intimacy. Men must be aware of the physical causes of impotency in order to treat it.

  1. Diabetes

    • Menstuff.org states that, as of 2008, one out of every four men suffers from diabetes. Diabetes can cause the nerves in your body to deteriorate, which is called diabetic neuropathy. If nerves or blood vessels that control the flow of blood to the penis are affected by this deterioration, impotency can result. In certain instances, controlling your blood sugar and following your diet according to your doctor's orders can decrease impotency. However, permanent nerve damage can cause impotency to become chronic.

    Cardiovascular Disease

    • Cardiovascular disease can cause a hardening of the arteries, which can affect the artery leading to the penis. This may prevent the artery from dilating enough for proper blood flow, resulting in the inability to get an erection. Also, nerve damage related to cardiovascular disease can cause impotency. Coronary Artery Atherosclerosis is a specific type of cardiovascular disease characterized by deposits in the arteries that restrict blood flow. Men with a severe case of this disease are likely to be more impotent than men with a mild case or men not affected at all.

    Alcoholism

    • Alcoholism affects hormone levels, which may lead to nerve damage. As stated earlier, nerve damage can result in impotency in men. Depending on the severity of the alcoholism, impotency may be reversible. However, menstuff.org reported that 25 percent of alcoholic men suffer from impotency even after they stop drinking.

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