SEXUAL IMPOTENCE AND DIABETES
Sexual impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is the incompetence and difficulty in having or maintaining a penile erection that allows a man to maintain a personal relationship.
Erectile dysfunction can occur earlier in men with diabetes than in men without the condition. Difficulty maintaining an erection may even precede the diagnosis of diabetes.
Sexual impotence mostly affects men between 50 and 80 years of age, and in addition to causing damage to the sexual and intimate well-being of men, it must, in the same way, bring other psychological dilemmas such as depression, collaborating by virtue of this with a decrease in the category of existence
Diabetes can cause sexual impotence through a sequence of vascular and sensory changes that should make it difficult for blood to reach the penis and sensitivity, thus making erection and personal intercourse difficult.
In order to have and maintain a penile erection, a man needs physical and psychological stimuli that will increase blood circulation in the genital area, and if this does not happen, it is most unlikely to have the necessary provisions for a satisfactory sexual relationship.
Thus, diabetes can cause sexual impotence and the main reasons or reasons for sexual impotence in diabetics are circulatory changes that reduce the arrival of blood in the penile region, in addition to obstruction of the penile artery, which reduces the concentration of blood in this area due to atherosclerosis.
The Diagnosis
To make the diagnosis of erectile dysfunction, the medical professional will make a detailed record of any and all challenges experienced during the relationship, in addition to notifying himself of other possible reasons or reasons such as Diabetes, which requires care.
In addition, the medical professional also makes a physical inquiry in search of deformities in the genital organ, prostate diseases, references to hypogonadism or references to cardiovascular diseases or neurological dilemmas.
When necessary, the medical professional should order laboratory tests when calculating the levels of lipids, sugars and the hormone testosterone in the body, since these values should help to recognize the problem.
Control and treatment measures
Measures such as controlling glucose and blood pressure values, maintaining the ideal weight through a balanced diet and regular visits to the medical professional are essential to ensure a healthy existence, collaborating with the way of dealing with the impotence caused by diabetes.
Several erectile dysfunction treatments are available. It’s important to discuss with your doctor whether one of these might be a good choice for you:
• Oral medications – Erectile dysfunction medications include sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis, Adcirca), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) or avanafil (Stendra). These pills can help ease the blood flow to your penis, making it easier to get and keep an erection.
• Other medications – If pills aren’t a good fit for you, your doctor may recommend a tiny suppository that you insert into the tip of your penis before sex. Another possibility is medication that you can inject into the base or side of the penis. Like oral medications, these drugs increase the blood flow that helps you get and keep an erection.
• Vacuum-constriction device. This device, also called a penis pump or vacuum pump, is a hollow tube that you place over your penis. It uses a pump to draw blood into the penis to create an erection. A band placed at the base of the penis maintains the erection after the tube is removed. This battery or hand powered device is simple to operate and has a low risk of problems. If a vacuum constriction device is a good treatment option for you, your doctor may recommend or prescribe a specific model. That way, you can be sure that it meets your needs and that it’s made by a reputable manufacturer.
• Penile implants. In cases where medications or a penis pump do not work, a surgical penile implant may be an option. Semi-rigid or inflatable penile implants are a safe and effective option for many men with erectile dysfunction.
Bibliographic references
Afif-Abdo, J. Diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Diagnosis Treatment Magazine, 12(4), 192-195, 2007.
Kern, C.A.R. Male Sexual Dysfunction: Psychoanalytic understanding. Masters dissertation. University of Vale do Rio dos Sinos, São Leopoldo, RS, Brazil. 2010.
NARDOZZA JUNIOR, Archimedes. Sexual dysfunctions. In: NARDOZZA JÚNIOR, Archimedes; ZERATI FILHO, Miguel; REIS, Rodolfo Borges dos. Basic urology. São Paulo: Planmark, 2010. Chap. 9. p. 87-100.
