Erectile dysfunction involves 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 after 50 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 achieve 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 does not lose its relevance.
In urological practice, it is customary 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 low potency and impotence at 50
Male potency after 50 weakens for many reasons. Accumulated health problems are felt not only by manifestations of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, joints, but also by problems with the functioning of the reproductive system.
The main causes of decreased 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, alteration of fat metabolism (increase in cholesterol levels, low density lipoproteins, 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 normal blood filling, which prevents erection. For normal potency in men, an expansion of the veins of the cavernous bodies of the penis is necessary, which is impossible with vascular pathology, which is determined by high 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.
- Neurogenic: central and peripheral. The main 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 the trophism of the tissues of the genital organs, degenerative processes in the nerve fibers.
- Urological: prostatic adenoma, chronic prostatitis.
- Iatrogenic, due to medical management: damage to the nerves of the rectum, testicles, prostate, bladder during surgery.
- Traumatic: pelvic lesions, lesions of the genital arteries, urethra, spinal cord, fractures of the bones of the pelvis.
- Endocrine: obesity, insufficient or excessive thyroid function, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, pathologies of the pituitary gland, adrenal glands (Itsenko-Cushing syndrome).
- Drugs: taking drugs that reduce blood pressure, restore heartbeat, diuretics, antidepressants, antiallergics, tranquilizers, antiandrogens, certain hormonal agents (estrogens, analogs and antagonists of pituitary hormone-releasing hormones, antiandrogens).
- Anatomical, i. e. abnormalities or diseases of the penis: Peyronie's disease, hypo and epispadias, penile fracture, 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 relations 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 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.
For an erection to occur and continue, nerve impulses 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. The smooth muscle cells relax and an erection occurs.
Full functioning of the reflex arc, which provides normal power, is possible only if the healthy state of its connections is preserved: nerves, blood vessels, endocrine glands.
The pathogenesis of potency disorders in men over 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 provides 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 power.
Almost all men experience episodes of impotence by 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.
Impotence Diagnosis
Not all men turn to a urologist and a sex therapist to solve problems with potency. As a rule, representatives of the stronger sex use folk remedies or independently buy folk remedies in a pharmacy to improve potency.
The complete diagnosis of impotence in men over 50 includes 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 penile tumescence, including nocturnal;
- palpation of the prostate through the rectum;
- cavernosography, spongiosography;
- CT and MRI;
- to study 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 the peripheral arteries);
- biochemical blood test, glucose tolerance test, blood lipid spectrum assessment;
- Ultrasound of 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 the diagnosis of the root causes of impotence in men over 50 is the consultation of a sex therapist and a 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 in the vast majority of cases is carried out by a conservative method, including drug treatment and the involvement of a psychologist.
First of all, for the successful treatment of impotence in mature men, it is necessary to cure or restore as much as possible pathologies of the heart and blood vessels, endocrine system, liver diseases, kidneys, bladder and prostate.
Potency in men at the age of 50 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 fastest 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.
Medicines are used one hour (half an hour) before sexual intercourse. It is worth knowing that for the formation of an erection when taking the funds of this group, it is necessary to have a minimum of excitement. The dosage is on average 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 using 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 content of nitric oxide.
Many men wonder whether alcohol can be used to relax and increase the chances of having a stable erection, how to increase potency after 50 with the help of drugs and whether they can be combined withalcohol.
If a man does not abuse alcohol, does not suffer from serious pathologies of the cardiovascular system, folk means for increasing potency can be taken 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 the production of testosterone 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 improving blood flow, normalizing 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, 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, it is recommended to use physiotherapeutic methods in addition, in particular acupuncture, electrophoresis.
Potency can also be increased by mechanical means, in particular by using a penis vacuum pump.
The fight against obesity and alcohol addiction is important in the treatment of impotence.
As you know, fat cells in the male body are considered a source of female sex hormones, which disrupt the hormonal balance, leading to prostate pathologies and sexual dysfunctions. 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 sudden exercises in the gym will not lead to the restoration of potency, but only aggravate the situation.
A dosed approach to dynamic loads, nutritional correction will allow you to overcome impotence without harming the body.