Erectile dysfunction implies a multifactorial psychosomatic syndrome that occurs in men of all ages and is described by typical symptoms of a decrease in the quality of an erection necessary to satisfy sexual desire.
Impotence in men after the age of 50 can be an indicator of dysfunction of many organs. Erectile dysfunction significantly reduces a man's quality of life.
Impotence is the inability to achieve and maintain a full and stable erection and ensure successful sexual intercourse. The term "impotence" is considered outdated, but is still used today in everyday life and does not lose its relevance.
In urological practice it is common to use the term "erectile dysfunction".
In men after 50 years, the frequency of reduced potency reaches 25%. Complaints of erectile dysfunction peak in the sixth decade.
Causes of erectile dysfunction and impotence at 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 dysfunctions of the reproductive system.
The main causes of decreased potency in men over 50 are vascular pathologies, mental disorders and diseases of the nervous system. In addition, prostate adenoma in men over 50 is often considered a cause of erectile dysfunction.
According to international studies, there are several main causes of impotence in older men:
- Vascular: atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, impaired lipid metabolism (elevated cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high atherogenic index). These vascular factors lead to a pathological function of the cavernous bodies of the penis, narrowing of the arteries and veins is formed, which prevents normal filling of blood, which prevents an erection. For normal potency in men, expansion of the veins of the cavernous bodies of the penis is necessary, which is impossible with vascular pathology, which is determined by increased blood pressure and atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal aorta. Progressive varicose vein disease affecting the vessels of the small pelvis also leads to impotence in men over 50 years of age.
- Neurogenic: central and peripheral. The central ones include parkinsonism, multiple sclerosis, cerebral infarction, epilepsy. Peripherally include pathologies of the nervous system caused by other diseases, in particular, diabetes mellitus, alcoholism, polyneuropathy. These diseases lead to a gradual disruption of the trophism of the tissues of the genital organs, degenerative processes in the nerve fibers.
- Urological: prostate adenoma, chronic prostatitis.
- Iatrogenic, due to medical care: damage to the nerves of the rectum, testicles, prostate, bladder during surgical procedures.
- 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 drugs that lower blood pressure, restore heart rhythm, diuretics, antidepressants, antiallergic drugs, tranquilizers, antiandrogens, some hormonal agents (estrogens, analogues and antagonists of hormones releasing pituitary hormone, antiandrogens).
- Anatomical, i. e. abnormalities or diseases of the penis: Peyronie's disease, hypo- and epispadias, penile fracture, severe penile curvature.
- 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 the solution of personal problems, after which erectile function is restored.
As a result of sexual arousal, a nerve impulse along the limbs 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 lining the blood vessels of the penis.
For an erection to occur and last, the nerve impulse must reach the smooth muscle cells that make up the vasculature of the penis. This causes the nerve endings to 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 ensures normal potency, is possible only if the healthy state of its connections is maintained: nerves, blood vessels, endocrine glands.
The pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction in men over 50 years of age is associated with a decrease in the release of nitric oxide by the cells of the vessels of the penis. As a result, the cascade of reactions that ensure a full erection is disrupted.
Many organs and systems are involved in producing normal potency in a 50-year-old man. A number of diseases that an adult man in his sixties will inevitably face lead to the failure of one of the links in the reflex arc that provides potency.
Almost every man experiences episodes of impotence by the age of 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 treatment approach. A one-sided 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 problems with potency. As a rule, the representatives of the stronger sex use folk remedies or independently buy popular remedies in a pharmacy to improve potency.
A comprehensive diagnosis of impotence in men over 50 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 swelling of the penis, including nocturnal;
- palpation of the prostate through the rectum;
- Cavernosography, Spongiosography;
- CT and MRI;
- Study of the functions of the endothelium of the vessels of the penis (coronary angiography with acetylcholine, study of the flow-dependent expansion 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, determination of the 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 (VeloEKG, ultrasound).
An important point in diagnosing the causes of impotence in men over 50 is consultation with a sexologist and psychologist. In addition, tests for determining the pathology of potency, which are widely distributed on the Internet, such as: B. ICEF.
How to increase potency after 50
Treatment of impotence in men after the age of 50 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 success of the treatment of impotence in men of mature age, it is necessary to heal or restore as much as possible the pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, the endocrine system, diseases of the liver, kidneys, bladder and prostate.
Potency in men over the age of 50 without chronic pathologies of internal organs can be corrected with popular means - phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE).
PDE inhibitors in male sexual pathology are the most effective and fastest-acting drugs. These include funds based on:
- Vardenafil - the duration of action 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 the formation of an erection when taking the funds of this group requires minimal excitement. The dosage is 50 mg on average, but can be reduced to 25 mg or increased to 100 mg.
However, such 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 with the help of PDE inhibitors is achieved by affecting the main mechanism of the pathogenesis of erectile dysfunction: an increase in the concentration of nitric oxide. In addition to this group of active ingredients, NO synthase activators are used to increase the nitrogen oxide content.
Many men are worried about whether alcohol can be used to relax and increase the chances of getting a stable erection, how to use drugs to increase potency after 50, and whether to combine them with alcohol.
If a man does not abuse alcohol and does not suffer from serious diseases of the cardiovascular system, then popular means of increasing potency can be taken along with alcohol.
Besides PDE inhibitors, popular treatments for impotence include:
- means of testosterone. Restoration of potency in men after 50-60 years, when the production of testosterone by the testicles is reduced, preparations of male sex hormones can be used.
- Prostaglandins injected into the tissues of the penis. Means improve blood circulation, normalize blood filling of veins and arteries.
- Alpha-blockers, the action of which 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.
Since it is quite difficult to improve potency after 50 years with chronic diseases, it is recommended to additionally use physiotherapeutic methods, in particular, acupuncture, electrophoresis.
Potency can also be increased mechanically, particularly with a penile vacuum pump.
Important in the treatment of impotence is the fight against obesity and alcohol addiction.
As you know, fat cells in a man's body are considered a source of female sex hormones, which disrupt hormonal balance and lead to prostate pathologies and sexual dysfunction. The source of natural estrogens is beer. A man over 50 should drink beer no more than once a week.
It is necessary to lose weight gradually and lose no more than 5 kg per month. Moderate exercise and diet are recommended. Intensive, spontaneous and abrupt exercises in the gym do not lead to the restoration of potency, but only aggravate the situation.
A dosed approach to dynamic loads and nutritional correction will allow you to defeat impotence without harming the body.