IMPOTENCE: TREATMENT
If you think you are impotent, but you are not affected by any of the physical problems I’ve mentioned, the condition may be caused by stress, psychological problems, or anxiety that you’ve developed concerning sex. If, however, you believe your impotence is caused by a physical problem, see your doctor for advice and treatment. He will conduct a complete medical history and physical exam, as well as a number of tests, to determine the cause of your impotence. The exam will include a digital rectal exam, so he can check the prostate, and a manual exam of the testicles. He will also take your pulse in your abdomen and legs and perhaps do a sonogram, to check the amount of blood that is reaching your penis.
First, if you smoke or drink alcohol regularly, try cutting down or out completely to see if that affects your ability to achieve and maintain an erection. If your impotence has appeared suddenly, your physician may believe that a particular medication such as an antidepressant or antihypertensive is responsible; if this is the case, he will switch you over to another one that is just as effective but does not have the side effects. If you have become impotent over a period of time and your legs have felt cold and swollen lately, an underlying disease—most likely a vascular disease or diabetes mellitus—is responsible. And if you’ve noticed that your testicles or breasts have become larger, you may have an underlying endocrine disorder, such as thyroid disease. Treating a stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, or cancer requires ongoing medication and lifestyle changes; once these are all in place, your impotence should disappear.
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