Erectile dysfunction is a multifactorial psychosomatic syndrome that occurs in men of all ages, described with typical symptoms of reduced erection quality needed to satisfy sexual desire.
Impotence in men over the age of 50 can be an indicator of dysfunction of many organs. Erectile dysfunction significantly reduces a man's quality of life.
Impotence means the inability to achieve a full and stable erection, the inability to maintain and ensure successful sexual intercourse. The concept of "impotence" is considered obsolete, but it continues to be used in everyday life to this day and does not lose its relevance.
In urological practice, it is common to use the term "erectile dysfunction".
In men after the age of 50, the frequency of reduced potency reaches 25%. Complaints of erectile dysfunction peak in the sixth decade.
Causes of low potency and impotence at 50
Male potency weakens after 50 years for many reasons. Accumulated health problems are manifested not only with manifestations of heart disease, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, joints, but also with problems in the functioning of the reproductive system.
The leading causes of reduced potency in men over 50 are vascular pathology, psychological disorders and diseases of the nervous system. In addition, in men over 50, prostate adenoma is often considered a cause of erectile dysfunction.
According to international studies, there are several main causes of impotence in older men:
- Vascular: atherosclerosis, hypertension, impaired fat metabolism (elevated cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein, high atherogenic index). These vascular factors lead to the pathological functioning of the cavernous sinuses of the penis, narrowing of the arteries and veins, which interfere with the normal blood supply, which prevents erection. For normal potency in men it is necessary to dilate the veins of the corpora cavernosa of the penis, which is impossible in vascular pathology, which is determined by elevated blood pressure, atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal aorta. Progressive varicose veins, which affect the vessels of the pelvis, also lead to impotence in men over 50 years of age.
- Neurogenic: central and peripheral. Central ones include parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, cerebral infarction, epilepsy. Peripherals include pathologies of the nervous system caused by other diseases, in particular diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, polyneuropathy. These diseases lead to a gradual disruption of trophic tissues of the genital organs, degenerative processes in nerve fibers.
- Urological: prostate adenoma, chronic prostatitis.
- Iatrogenic, due to the provision of medical care: damage to the nerves of the rectum, testicles, prostate, bladder during surgery.
- Traumatic: pelvic injuries, damage to the genital arteries, urethra, spinal cord, pelvic fractures.
- Endocrine: obesity, insufficient or excessive thyroid function, type 1 and type 2 diabetes, pathologies of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands (Itsenko-Cushing syndrome).
- Medications: taking drugs that lower blood pressure, restore heart rhythm, diuretics, antidepressants, antiallergics, tranquilizers, antiandrogens, some hormonal agents (estrogens, analogues and antagonists of pituitary-releasing hormones, antiandrogens).
- Anatomical, which means abnormalities or diseases of the penis: Peyronie's disease, hypo and epispadias, fracture of the penis, severe curvature of the penis.
- Psychological: sexual arousal disorder due to two types of provoking factors. The generalized type means a complete lack of libido, a violation of intimacy in a relationship. The situational type implies a pronounced effect of stress on the man's body, personal relationship with a partner. Situational impotence, as a rule, is not a pathology and requires solving personal problems, after which erectile function is restored.
As a result of sexual arousal, the nerve impulse along the connections of the reflex arc of a healthy man leads to a stable erection. This process is based on the release of nitric oxide, the source of which are the cells of the inner lining of the blood vessels of the penis.
In order for an erection to occur and continue, the nerve impulse must reach the smooth muscle cells that make up the vessels of the penis. As a result, the nerve endings interact with the endothelium (the inner layer of blood vessels) and nitric oxide is released.
Nitric oxide, in turn, activates an enzyme that promotes the release of calcium ions from cells. Smooth muscle cells relax and an erection occurs.
The full functioning of the reflex arc, which provides normal potency, is possible only if the health of its connections is maintained: nerves, blood vessels, endocrine glands.
The pathogenesis of potency disorders in men over the age of 50 is associated with a decrease in the release of nitric oxide from the cells of the vessels of the penis. As a result, the cascade of reactions that provide a complete erection is disrupted.
Many organs and systems are involved in the process of establishing normal potency in a 50-year-old man. A number of diseases faced by an adult man in his sixties inevitably lead to the defeat of one of the connections in the reflex arc that provides potency.
Almost every man experiences episodes of impotence at the age of 50, but depending on the severity of the dysfunction of various organs and systems, erectile dysfunction can be situational (temporary) or persistent.
Important
Prolonged impotence in a 50-year-old man requires a systematic and integrated approach to treatment. A one-sided approach to the treatment of impotence leads to a temporary improvement in the situation.
Diagnosis of impotence
Not all men turn to a urologist and sex therapist to solve potency problems. As a rule, the stronger sex use folk remedies or buy popular drugs in pharmacies to improve potency.
The complete diagnosis of impotence in men over 50 consists of the following steps:
- Pelvic ultrasound, including transrectal ultrasound of the prostate, pharmacodoplerography of the vessels of the penis;
- visual test for erotic stimulation;
- follow-up of penile tumors, including nocturnal;
- palpation of the prostate through the rectum;
- cavernous, spongiographic;
- CT and MRI;
- study of the endothelial functions of the vessels of the penis (coronary angiography with acetylcholine, study of flow-dependent dilation of the brachial artery in a sample with its narrowing, laser Doppler flowmetry, study of the tone of peripheral arteries);
- biochemical blood test, glucose tolerance test, assessment of blood lipid spectrum;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- blood test for hormones (male and female sex, thyroid and adrenal hormones);
- blood test for prostate-specific antigen;
- examinations of the heart and blood vessels (cycling ECG, ultrasound).
An important point in diagnosing the main causes of impotence in men over 50 is the consultation with a sexologist and psychologist. In addition, tests are widely used to determine the pathology of potency that are widely available on the web, such as ICEF.
How to increase potency after 50
The treatment of impotence in men after the age of 50 in most cases is carried out by a conservative method, including drug therapy and the intervention of a psychologist.
First of all, for the success of the treatment of impotence in men in adulthood it is necessary to treat or restore as much as possible pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, endocrine system, diseases of the liver, kidneys, bladder and prostate.
Potency in men aged 50 years without chronic pathologies of the internal organs can be corrected with popular means - phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE).
PDE inhibitors in male sexual pathology are the most effective and fast-acting drugs. These include funds based on:
- vardenafil - the duration of the effect is 5-12 hours;
- sildenafil - duration of action 4 hours;
- tadalafil - duration of action 36 hours.
The drugs are used an hour (half an hour) before sexual intercourse. You should know that for the formation of an erection, when taking drugs from this group, you need to have minimal arousal. The average dose is 50 mg, but can be reduced to 25 mg or increased to 100 mg at a time.
However, such drugs have a fairly wide range of side effects on the lungs and heart, as the drug acts not only on the endothelium of the vessels of the penis.
The increase in potency in men after 50 years with the help of PDE inhibitors is achieved by influencing the main mechanism of the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction: increasing the concentration of nitric oxide. In addition to this group of agents, NO synthase activators are used to increase nitric oxide content.
Many men worry about whether alcohol can be used to relax and increase the chances of a stable erection, how to increase potency after 50 with the help of drugs and whether it can be combined with alcohol.
If the man does not abuse alcohol, does not suffer from severe pathologies of the cardiovascular system, then the popular means of increasing potency can be taken together with alcohol.
In addition to PDE inhibitors, popular treatments for impotence include:
- Testosterone agents. Restoration of potency in men after 50-60 years, when the production of testosterone from the testes is reduced, preparations of male sex hormones can be used.
- Prostaglandins, which are injections given into the tissues of the penis. The funds improve blood flow, normalize the blood supply to the veins and arteries.
- Alpha-blockers, whose action is based on the expansion of the vessels of the penis and small pelvis.
Potency can be increased in combination with such folk remedies as Eleutherococcus, ginseng, aralia, pumpkin seeds, nuts, celery, honey, ginger. In addition, dietary supplements are widely used.
As it is quite difficult to improve potency after 50 years in the presence of chronic diseases, it is recommended to additionally use physiotherapeutic methods, in particular acupuncture, electrophoresis.
Potency can also be increased by mechanical means, in particular by means of a vacuum pump for the penis.
Important in the treatment of impotence is the fight against obesity and alcohol dependence.
As you know, fat cells in a man's body are considered a source of female sex hormone, which disrupts hormonal balance, leading to prostate pathology and sexual dysfunction. The source of natural estrogen is beer. A man over 50 should drink beer no more than once a week.
You need to lose weight gradually, losing no more than 5 kg per month. Moderate exercise and diet are recommended. Intense, spontaneous and sharp exercises in the gym will not lead to the restoration of potency, but will only worsen the situation.
Dosed approach to dynamic loads, dietary adjustment will allow you to overcome impotence without harm to the body.