Impotence Treatment in Smyrna, GA
Are weak or nonexistent erections impeding your sex life? Is your lack of sexual power dispelling your self-esteem and sense of well-being? If you can’t maintain erections firm enough for sexual intercourse you may need treatment for impotence.
Effective treatment options are as varied as the physical or emotional factors that can cause impotence. Sexual arousal and satisfaction could be just a few treatment sessions away. To help revitalize your sexual performance, speak with an impotence specialist in Smyrna, call today at (678) 331-5104 or contact Dr. Gail Ravello online.
What is Impotence?
Impotence is the inability to gain and maintain erections strong enough to have sexual intercourse. Occasional impotence is usually not the result of a medical issue or underlying emotional cause, but when the lack of desired erections becomes chronic more serious problems may require medical attention.
What Causes Impotence?
Impotence occurs when blood flow to the genital area is insufficient to maintain firm erections. Diabetes, heart or cardiovascular disease, stress, anxiety, or depression can cause the condition, and usually, better overall health leads to better sexual function. While males over 50 are more likely to experience impotence, it can affect younger men as well.
Occasional impotence is common and generally does not indicate a serious health concern. Relationship conflict, stress, or other non-medical factors can influence your ability to gain and maintain erections, but persistent impotence may be a sign of underlying health problems that should be addressed.
Diabetes patients may be at a higher risk of impotence. Research shows diabetes causes nearly as many cases of impotence as vascular damage does.
Performance anxiety is a very common cause of non-medical anxiety. If you’re anxious of depressed over sexual performance, speaking with a therapist or support group may help. Ask your doctor for a referral or look online for a therapist or therapy group.
What Are the Symptoms of Impotence?
The causes and symptoms of impotence are generally well understood:
- difficulty gaining or maintain erections
- decreased sexual interest
- delayed or premature ejaculation
- anorgasmia: lack of orgasm after sexual stimulation
How is Impotence Diagnosed?
Typically, impotence is diagnosed during a physical exam. If you are seeing a general practitioner, you may be referred to a urinary tract specialist called a urologist who can conduct further tests to diagnose or rule out impotence.
Common elements of impotence diagnosis include:
- testicles and penis physical examination
- prostate and rectal exam
- auscultation (listening to your heart and breathing)
- blood and urine lab analysis
- blood pressure test
- Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT): a small device that attaches to your thigh to measure nocturnal erections
How is Impotence Treated?
The most common treatments are prescription medication, a cellular injection called Pshot (Priapus shot), Internal Penile Pump™, penile self-injection and suppository, and external devices.
Prescription medications like Viagra™, Cialis, and Levitra increase blood flow to the penis, helping you gain stronger erections. These medications generally work the same way, but each has different potential side effects.
Viagra™ is the best-known impotence medication. It and Levitra provide short-term increased blood flow, while Cialis offers up to 36 hours of benefit.
Speak with your doctor to discuss potential side effects and whether these medications will benefit your particular condition.
Impotence medications rarely cause side effects, but they may include:
- stomach upset
- muscle cramps
- vision color changes
- upper respiratory infection
Priapism, an involuntary erection that lasts several hours, occurs rarely. This condition is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment. Priapism can cause permanent penis damage.
Priapus Shot (Pshot) is an injection of platelet-rich-plasma (PRP). This is a type of regenerative medication that uses growth factors found in your own blood plasma to regenerate and restore function to the injected area.
This advanced therapy involves drawing your blood and spinning it in a centrifuge to isolate the plasma. The process is repeated until a sample of platelet-rich plasma is obtained. Injecting this plasma into your penis may help improve nerve and vascular function, leading to stronger erections and increased libido.
Serious Pshot side effects occur rarely, but you may experience pain, bruising, soreness, or inflammation at the injection site.
Internal Penile Pump™
The Internal Penile Pump™ is an implant placed into your genital area surgically and filled with salt water solution. The device expands and contracts without losing elasticity, by pumping water into attached tubes and causing your penis to become rigid. This option may benefit patients who can’t use impotence medications or who desire to regain their sexual spontaneity.
It’s important to note that while this device may cause slight increases to your non-erect penis, it does not offer erect size gains.
This device requires surgical installation, which requires anesthesia and recovery time. Complications of surgery can include:
- bleeding, bruising, and soreness at incision site
- appetite loss
- nausea and vomiting
Penile self-injection and suppository
Penile self-injection is a home treatment that includes injecting your penis with a prescription drug that expands blood vessels and increases blood flow to the area. The injection usually induces an erection rigid enough for sex about 80% of the time.
A similar treatment is medicated urethral system for erection, or MUSE. This treatment is self-administered by inserting a medicated tablet into your urethra, where it dissolves, causing an erection.
Penile self-injection and suppository typically cause mild or no side effects. You may experience slight pain where the medication is injected or slight urethral pain.
External vacuum pump
More commonly called a penis pump, this device uses suctions blood into your penis producing an erection. Despite common claims and conceptions, the vacuum pump does not offer permanent penis size gains. Pumping too hard or too often can cause painful permanent penis injury.
While the penis pump may help you have intercourse, its effects are limited and it’s typically not as effective as other treatment options. Effects may last up to 30 minutes. Other side effects may include:
- bleeding under the skin
Stem cell therapy
Medical research is ongoing regarding the use of stem cell therapy for regenerative purposes. While this treatment typically isn’t widely available yet, it shows promise as a future treatment for many causes of impotence1.
To minimize risks and complications, always talk to your doctor before taking any medications or undergoing any medical procedures.
Impotence and Age
Impotence is not inevitable. As you age, heart health, cardiovascular function, mental health, and other medical conditions can have a stronger impact on your blood flow and sexual performance. Gaining firm erections may become more difficult with age, but aging doesn’t ensure you’ll become sexually impotent.