Erectile dysfunction implies a multifactorial psychosomatic syndrome that occurs in men at any age, described by typical symptoms of decreased quality of an erection necessary to satisfy sexual desire.
Impotence in men over 50 years of age can be an indicator of dysfunction of many organs. Erectile dysfunction significantly reduces a man's quality of life.
Impotence is understood as the inability to obtain a full and stable erection, the inability to maintain it and ensure successful sexual intercourse. The concept of "impotence" is considered obsolete, however, it continues to be used in everyday life to this day and has not lost its relevance.
In urological practice, the term "erectile dysfunction" is often used.
Among men over the age of 50, the frequency of potency reduction reaches 25%. Complaints of erectile dysfunction peak in the sixth decade.
Causes of low potency and impotence at age 50
Male potency after 50 years weakens for many reasons. The accumulated health problems are felt not only by manifestations of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, joints, but also by problems in the functioning of the reproductive system.
The main causes of reduced potency in men over 50 years of age are vascular pathologies, psychological disorders and diseases of the nervous system. Also, in men over 50 years old, prostate adenoma is often considered to be the cause of erectile dysfunction.
According to international studies, there are several main causes of impotence in older men:
- Vascular: atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, impaired fat metabolism (increased cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein, high atherogenic index). These vascular factors lead to the pathological functioning of the cavernous sinuses of the penis, narrowings are formed in the arteries and veins that prevent the normal filling of blood, which prevents erection. For normal potency in men, expansion of the veins of the cavernous bodies of the penis is required, which is impossible with vascular pathology, determined by high blood pressure values, atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal aorta. Progressive varicose disease that affects the vessels of the small pelvis also leads 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 breakdown of the trophism of the tissues of Organs genital organs, degenerative processes in the nerve fibers.
- Urologic: prostate adenoma, chronic prostatitis.
- Iatrogenic, due to the provision of medical care: damage to the nerves of the rectum, testicles, prostate, bladder during surgical interventions.
- Traumatic: pelvic injuries, damage to the genital arteries, urethra, spinal cord, fractures of the pelvic bones.
- Endocrine: obesity, insufficient or excessive thyroid function, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, pathologies of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands (Itsenko-Cushing syndrome).
- Medications: taking medications that lower blood pressure, restore heart rhythm, diuretics, antidepressants, antiallergics, tranquilizers, antiandrogens, some hormonal agents (estrogens, analogues and antagonists of pituitary hormone releasing hormones, antiandrogens).
- Anatomical, meaning anomalies or diseases of the penis: Peyronie's disease, hypo and epispadias, fracture of the penis, severe curvature of the penis.
- Psychological: violation of sexual arousal, 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 a man's body, personal relationships 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, a nerve impulse along the reflex arc leads in a healthy male leads to a stable erection. This process is based on the release of nitric oxide, the source of which is the cells of the inner lining of the blood vessels of the penis.
For an erection to arise and continue, the nerve impulse must reach the smooth muscle cells that make up the vessels of the penis. As a result, nerve endings interact with the endothelium (the inner layer of blood vessels) and nitric oxide is released.
In turn, nitric oxide 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 power, is only possible if the healthy state of its connections is preserved: nerves, blood vessels, endocrine glands.
The pathogenesis of potency disorders in men over 50 years of age is associated with a decrease in the release of nitric oxide from penile vessel cells. As a result, the cascade of reactions that provide a full erection is interrupted.
Many organs and systems are involved in the process of establishing normal potency in a 50-year-old man. A series of ailments that a sixty-year-old adult male inevitably encounters leads to the defeat of one of the links in the reflex arc that provides power.
Almost every man experiences episodes of impotence by age 50, however, depending on the severity of the dysfunction of various organs and systems, erectile dysfunction can be situational (temporary) or persistent.
Important
Persistent impotence in a 50-year-old man requires a systematic and integrated approach to treatment. A unilateral approach to the treatment of impotence leads to a temporary improvement in the situation.
impotence diagnosis
Not all men turn to a urologist and sex therapist for potency problems. As a rule, representatives of the stronger sex use folk remedies or independently buy folk remedies in a pharmacy to improve potency.
Comprehensive diagnosis of impotence in men over 50 years old consists of the following steps:
- Ultrasound of the small pelvis, including transrectal ultrasound of the prostate, pharmacodopplerography of the vessels of the penis;
- visual test of erotic stimulation;
- monitoring of penile tumescences, including nocturnal;
- palpation of the prostate through the rectum;
- cavernosography, spongiography;
- CT and MRI;
- to study the functions of the endothelium of the vessels of the penis (coronary angiography with acetylcholine, studying the flow-dependent expansion of the brachial artery in a sample with its narrowing, laser Doppler flowmetry, studying the tone of peripheral arteries);
- biochemical blood test, glucose tolerance test, blood lipid spectrum assessment;
- Ultrasound of Organs abdominal organs;
- blood test for hormones (male and female, thyroid and adrenal hormones);
- blood test for prostate-specific antigen;
- studies of the heart and blood vessels (veloEKG, ultrasound).
An important point for diagnosing the causes of impotence in men over 50 is to consult a sexologist and psychologist. In addition, tests are widely used to determine potency pathology, which are widely available on the network, eg ICEF.
How to increase potency after 50
The treatment of impotence in men over 50 years of age in the vast majority of cases is carried out by a conservative method, including drug therapy and the intervention of a psychologist.
First of all, for the successful treatment of impotence in men of mature age, it is necessary to cure or restore as much as possible pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, the endocrine system, diseases of the liver, kidneys, bladder and prostate.
Potency in men aged 50 years without chronic pathologies of internal organs can be corrected by popular means - phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors.
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.
Drugs are used one hour (half an hour) before intercourse. You should know that for the formation of an erection when taking the funds from this group, it is necessary to have a minimum arousal. The dosage averages 50mg but can be reduced to 25mg or increased to 100mg at a time.
However, these drugs have a fairly wide range of side effects on the lungs and heart, since the drug acts not only on the endothelium of the vessels of the penis.
An 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: an increase in the concentration of nitric oxide. In addition to this group of agents, NO synthase activators are used to increase the nitric oxide content.
Many men are concerned about whether alcohol can be used to relax and increase the chances of a stable erection, how to increase potency after age 50 with the help of medication, and whether they can be combined with alcohol.
If a man does not abuse alcohol, does not suffer from serious pathologies of the cardiovascular system, then popular means of increasing potency can be taken together with alcohol.
In addition to PDE inhibitors, popular treatments for impotence include:
- Testosterone media. Restoration of potency in men after 50-60 years, when testosterone production by the testes is reduced, male sex hormone preparations can be used.
- Prostaglandins, which are injections given into the tissues of the penis. Means improve blood flow, normalize blood filling of 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 folk remedies like Eleutherococcus, Ginseng, Aralia, pumpkin seeds, walnuts, celery, honey, ginger. In addition, dietary supplements are widely used.
Since it is quite difficult to improve potency after 50 years in the presence of chronic diseases, the additional use of physiotherapeutic methods, in particular acupuncture, electrophoresis, is recommended.
Potency can also be increased by mechanical means, in particular using a vacuum pump for the penis.
Important in the treatment of impotence is the fight against obesity and alcoholism.
As you know, fat cells in a man's body are considered a source of female sex hormone, which upsets the hormonal balance, leading to prostate pathologies and sexual dysfunction. The source of natural estrogens is beer. A man over 50 should not drink beer more than once a week.
It is necessary to lose weight gradually, losing no more than 5 kg per month. Moderate exercise and diet are recommended. Intense, spontaneous and abrupt exercise in the gym will not lead to the restoration of potency, but will only worsen the situation.
A dosed approach to dynamic loads, nutritional correction will allow you to defeat impotence without harming the body.