Impotence: 3 Men Fix Problems in the Bedroom

Josh is over 70 and has a wife twenty years younger.  He first came in to the office because of diabetes, but after several visits he admitted he could no longer have a sexual relationship with his wife.  “I’m impotent,” he stated in his matter-of-fact way.  We discussed his problem at length and found that he just couldn’t maintain an erection.

A sexual relationship is more than just for reproduction.  It represents and acknowledges the intimacy and commitment between a husband and wife so it is an ongoing part of a healthy relationship.  In the past, it was considered “normal” to become impotent (a lot of folks don’t like that word, which means “not powerful,” so the doctors now have a new term: “erectile dysfunction”) with age and nobody thought treatment would be an option.  However, since the marketing of the drug Viagra there is a lot more attention paid to this problem.

Josh was on multiple medications for diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.  All of these medications can lead to erectile dysfunction, so we started him on a diet and exercise program to normalize his numbers and be able to go off of the medications.  Within one year, he was off of all medications and his blood sugar and blood pressure were controlled – and he regained normal sexual function!  In this kind of case, the home cure works better than the prescription drugs, such as Viagra.

Erectile dysfunction is a symptom of vascular disease in other areas of the body.  If the penile blood vessels don’t work properly, then your arteries will be having trouble in other areas – like the heart and brain.  The process of fixing the erectile dysfunction will also correct atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the rest of the body.  It’s a win-win!

The other issue with Josh was his medications.  The first thing I do when a man comes in with this problem is to look at any prescription drugs he may be taking; erectile dysfunction is a common side-effect.  In such a case, it would be best to work with a doctor who knows how to help you get off the medication, rather than adding another one.  As you add medications, you multiply their inherent risks.

Very often the first thing men ask about when dealing with impotence is