Erectile dysfunction implies a multifactorial psychosomatic syndrome that occurs in men at any age, described by typical symptoms of a decrease in the quality of an erection necessary to satisfy sexual desire.
Impotence in men over 50 can be an indicator of dysfunction of many organs. Erectile dysfunction significantly reduces the quality of life of a man.
Impotence is understood as the inability to achieve a full and stable erection, the inability to maintain it and ensure a successful sexual intercourse. The concept of "impotence" is considered obsolete, however, it continues to be used in everyday life to this day and does not lose its relevance.
In urological practice, it is customary to use the term "erectile dysfunction".
Among men after 50 years, the frequency of potency reduction reaches 25%. Erectile dysfunction complaints peak in the sixth decade.
Causes of poor potency and impotence at 50
Male potency after 50 years weakens for many reasons. The accumulated health problems make themselves 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 leading causes of reduced potency in men over 50 are vascular pathologies, psychological disorders and diseases of the nervous system. In addition, in men over 50, prostate adenoma is often considered the cause of erectile dysfunction.
According to international studies, there are several main causes of impotence in older men:
- Vascular: atherosclerosis, arterial hypertension, impaired fat metabolism (increased levels of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein, high atherogenic index). These vascular factors lead to the pathological functioning of the cavernous sinuses of the penis, constrictions are formed in the arteries and veins that prevent normal blood filling, 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, which is determined by elevated blood pressure values, atherosclerotic plaques in the abdominal aorta. Progressive varicose 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. Peripheral 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 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's syndrome).
- Medications: taking drugs that reduce blood pressure, restore heart rhythm, diuretics, antidepressants, antiallergics, tranquilizers, antiandrogens, some hormonal agents (estrogens, analogs 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 the body of a man, personal relationships with a partner. Situational impotence, as a rule, is not a pathology and requires the solution of personal problems, after which the erectile function is restored.
As a result of sexual arousal, a nerve impulse along the links 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 is the cells of the inner lining of the blood vessels of the penis.
In order 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, the 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 potency, is possible only if the healthy state of its links 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 by the cells of the vessels of the penis. As a result, the cascade of reactions that provide a full 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 that an adult man in his sixties inevitably encounters lead to the defeat of one of the links in the reflex arc that provides potency.
Almost every man experiences episodes of impotence at the age of 50, however, depending on the severity of 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 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 a sex therapist to solve problems with potency. As a rule, the representatives of the stronger sex use folk remedies or independently purchase popular remedies in a pharmacy to improve potency.
Comprehensive diagnosis of impotence in men over 50 years of age 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 ones;
- palpation of the prostate through the rectum;
- cavernosography, spongiosography;
- CT and MRI;
- studying 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, 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;
- studies of the heart and blood vessels (veloEKG, ultrasound).
An important point in diagnosing the root causes of impotence in men over 50 is the consultation of a sexologist and psychologist. In addition, tests are widely used to determine the pathology of potency, which are widely available on the net, for example, ICEF.
How to increase potency after 50
Treatment of impotence in men after 50 years of age in the vast majority of cases is performed 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 cure 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 gland.
Potency in men at the age of 50 without chronic pathologies of internal organs can be corrected by 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 the funds of this group, it is necessary to have a minimum excitation. The dosage averages 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, 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 agents, NO-synthase activators are used to increase the content of nitric oxide.
Many men are worried 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 medications, and whether they can be combined with alcohol.
If a man does not abuse alcohol, does not suffer from severe pathologies of the cardiovascular system, then popular means to increase potency can be taken together with alcohol.
In addition to PDE inhibitors, popular treatments for impotence include:
- Means of testosterone. Restoration of potency in men after 50-60 years, when testosterone production by the testicles is reduced, preparations of male sex hormones 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, 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 rather 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, using a vacuum pump for the penis.
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 hormone, which disrupts the hormonal balance, leading 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, losing no more than 5 kg per month. Moderate exercise and diet are recommended. Intense, spontaneous and abrupt exercises in the gym will not lead to the restoration of potency, but will only aggravate the situation.
A dosed approach to dynamic loads, nutrition correction will allow you to defeat impotence without harm to the body.