Erectile dysfunction is a multifactorial psychosomatic syndrome that occurs in men of any age, described by the typical symptoms of decreased erection quality needed 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 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".
In men after 50 years, the frequency of power reduction reaches 25%. Complaints of erectile dysfunction peak in the sixth decade.
Causes of weak power and impotence in 50
Male power after 50 years is weakened for many reasons. Accumulated health problems are felt not only by the manifestations of diseases of the heart, blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract, joints, but also by problems in the functioning of the reproductive system.
The main causes of power reduction in men over 50 are vascular pathologies, psychological disorders and diseases of the nervous system. Moreover, 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, hypertension, impaired fat metabolism (increased cholesterol levels, low-density lipoprotein, high atherogenic index). These vascular factors lead to the pathological functioning of the cavernous sinuses of the penis, narrowing of the arteries and veins that impede the normal filling of blood, which prevents an erection. For normal potency in men, dilation 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 vein disease affecting the pelvic vessels also leads to impotence in men over 50 years of age.
- Neurogenic: central and peripheral. 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 cessation of genital tissue trophism, degenerative processes in 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, pelvic bone fractures.
- Endocrine: obesity, insufficient or excessive thyroid function, type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus, pituitary gland pathologies, adrenal glands (Itsenko-Cushing syndrome).
- Medications: taking medications that lower blood pressure, restore heart rate, diuretics, antidepressants, antiallergics, sedatives, antiandrogens, some hormonal agents (estrogens, analogues and antagonists of pituitary-releasing hormones, antia).
- Anatomical, meaning abnormality or disease 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 provocative factors. The generalized type means a complete lack of libido, a violation of intimacy in a relationship. The type of situation implies a pronounced effect of stress on a man's body, personal relationship 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 reflex arc connections 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 inner 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, nerve endings interact with the endothelium (the inner layer of blood vessels) and nitric oxide is released.
On the other hand, 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 power, is possible only if the healthy state of its connections is maintained: 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 from the cells of the penile vessels. As a result, the cascade of reactions that ensure a full erection is disrupted.
Many organs and systems are involved in the process of establishing normal power in a 50-year-old man. A series of diseases that an adult man in his sixties inevitably encounters, lead to the loss of one of the connections in the reflex arc that provides power.
Almost every man experiences episodes of impotence at the age of 50, however, depending on the severity of the dysfunction of various organs and systems, erectile dysfunction can be situational (temporary) or permanent.
Important
Persistent impotence in a 50-year-old man requires a systematic and integrated approach to treatment. A one-sided approach to treating impotence leads to a temporary improvement of the situation.
Diagnosis of impotence
Not all men turn to a urologist and 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 strength.
The comprehensive diagnosis of impotence in men over 50 years of age consists of the following steps:
- Ultrasound of the pelvis, including transrectal ultrasound of the prostate, pharmacodopplerography of the vessels of the penis;
- visual test of erotic stimulation;
- monitoring penis growth, including nocturnal ones;
- palpation of the prostate through the rectum;
- cavernosography, spongiography;
- CT and MRI;
- study of penile vascular endothelial functions (coronary angiography with acetylcholine, study of flow-dependent dilation of the brachial artery in a sample with its narrowing, Doppler laser flowmetry, study of peripheral artery tone);
- Biochemical blood test, glucose tolerance test, assessment of blood lipid spectrum;
- Ultrasound of the abdominal organs;
- blood test for hormones (male and female, thyroid and adrenal hormones);
- blood test for prostate specific antigen;
- cardiovascular studies (veloEKG, ultrasound).
An important point in diagnosing the root causes of impotence in men over 50 is consulting a sexologist and psychologist. Moreover, tests are widely used to determine power pathology, which are widely available in the network, for example, ICEF.
How to increase potency after 50s
Treatment of impotence in men after 50 years in the vast majority of cases is carried out by conservative methods, including drug therapy and the intervention of a psychologist.
First of all, for the success of the treatment of impotence in mature men, 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.
Power in men in the age of 50 years without chronic pathology of the internal organs can be corrected by folk remedies - phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDE).
PDE inhibitors in male sexual pathology are the most effective and fast-acting drugs. These include funds based on:
- vardenafil - duration of effect is 5-12 hours;
- sildenafil - duration of action 4 hours;
- tadalafil - duration of action 36 hours.
The medication is used one hour (half an hour) before sexual intercourse. You should know that for erection formation when you receive funds of this group, it is necessary to have a minimal stimulation. The average dose is 50 mg, but can be reduced to 25 mg or increased to 100 mg at the same time.
However, such drugs have a fairly wide range of side effects on the lungs and heart, as the drug acts not only on the endothelium of the penile vessels.
An increase in strength in men after 50 years with the help of 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 nitric oxide content.
Many men worry about whether alcohol can be used to relax and increase the chances of a sustained erection, how to increase strength after 50 with the help of medication, 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 folk remedies to increase strength can be taken along with alcohol.
In addition to PDE inhibitors, popular treatments for impotence include:
- Testosterone remedies. Restoration of strength in men after 50-60 years, when testosterone production by the testicles decreases, male sex hormone preparations can be used.
- Prostaglandins, which are injections given into the tissues of the penis. The means improve blood flow, normalize the blood filling of veins and arteries.
- Alpha-blockers, whose action is based on the expansion of the vessels of the penis and small pelvis.
Power can be increased in combination with such popular 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 strength after 50 years in the presence of chronic diseases, the additional use of physiotherapeutic methods is recommended, in particular, acupuncture, electrophoresis.
Power can also be increased by mechanical means, especially by using a vacuum pump for the penis.
Important in treating impotence is the fight against obesity and alcohol dependence.
As you know, fat cells in a male body are considered as a source of female sex hormone, which disrupts hormonal balance, leading to prostate pathology and sexual dysfunction. The source of natural estrogen 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 unexpected exercises in the gym will not lead to the return of potency, but will only worsen the situation.
A dosed approach to dynamic loads, nutrition correction will allow you to overcome impotence without harming the body.