NOVA Online | The Truth about Impotence

Do women suffer from impotence and if so, how would you diagnose it?

I've heard a lot of men talking about getting Viagra so they can have better sex. If they don't already suffer from impotence will it really allow them to have better sex?

Can the sexual function be reinstated following a radical prostectomy. If so, how? Incontinence has placed a severe damper on foreplay and arousal.

Even with treatment to correct impotence, it can still be difficult to ejaculate or reach orgasm. Why is that? What would inhibit ejaculation and/or orgasm? They are still possible but not frequent. It's kind of a hit or miss thing. I never know when I'm going to be able to function normally, either with a vacuum pump or Viagra.

What about drug interactions with Viagra. For instance, is it compatible with Prozac? For all my adult life my erection has curved downward rather than upward to my embarrassment. I once told a urologist about this, but he simply said I didn't have a full erection. Since it was firm, I didn't believe him, but couldn't convince him he was wrong. Is this a common condition. Have you ever heard of it? I have heard of a topical cream being introduced. What do you know of this product?

I think I read in the "Wall Street Journal" that they're looking into making Viagra into a wafer form. Is that true?

What treatments are effective for erectile dysfunction for diabetic men with circulatory problems and/or neuropathy?

Would consumption of alcohol cause a decrease in erection firmness?

I have no problems achieving an erection, nor do I have problems sustaining it, but I do have trouble reaching an orgasm. Is this a sign of impotence?

My husband is 31 and has suffered from impotence for about six months. We are at a loss for a reason why this has occurred. He is not able to achieve and maintain an erection. However, he is able to achieve orgasm and ejaculate through masturbation, during which he still does not achieve an erection. Do you have any explanation for why this may be occurring?

Recently, I have experienced difficulty in sexual arousal. What effect does a geographical relocation, such as moving from 3,800 feet elevation to sea level, that's number one. Number two, gaining approximately 20 pounds, and number three, having an increase in stress related to job change, have to do with this?

What role does frequent (once a day) masturbation play in a man's inability to achieve erection later on in life? I masturbate frequently, and have begun noticing less rigid erections.

I had an implant 2 1/2 years ago. I find that when really stimulated, erectile tissue goes beyond the erection established by the implant. This has been a total surprise. Is it possible that Viagra would additionally enhance the erection? I'm certain that you know that the implant erection leaves the head of the penis somewhat flaccid. Might Viagra help that also?

If a 50-milligram Viagra pill has no effect, is it safe to try two pills, that would be 100 milligrams, without first checking with my doctor or urologist?

What is the length in time of a normal erection? Also what is the length of a normal erect penis?

One question I have not seen answered about Viagra, does an individual maintain an erection after orgasm?

My husband is 62, and he has a problem with his heart's electrical signals causing him to skip a beat, usually when he gets more active. At some point his cardiologist says he will need a pacemaker. Currently, he has impotence in terms of being able to sustain an erection for more than a few minutes. What effect or risks would a pacemaker have on the various treatment for impotence?

What are the side effects to the new pill?

I am currently taking 200 milligrams of Zoloft per day. Could Viagra help with the erectile dysfunction side effect?

My wife and I have relations every so often, about once or twice a month. On occasion I will experience a total misfire. That is to say I will ejaculate without having an orgasm. My gonads sometimes get ready without me. What is this? Should I be concerned?

I was told that impotence in my case was caused by the inability to retain blood in the penis because of a leaky valve. Is this a common occurrence? If so, which treatment is most likely to succeed? Currently, I use a pump, but I have difficulty in applying the constriction band quickly enough to prevent some loss of rigidity.

Does a childhood operation for undescended testicles put one at higher risk for impotence? I have multiple sclerosis. I have a hard time maintaining an erection. And if I am nervous I cannot get an erection. Is this a form of impotence or something that can be associated with my multiple sclerosis and would it be worthwhile to investigate to using this new oral medication to help me stop feeling inadequate?

I am a 23-year-old man and have ever since the age of 18, suddenly my ejaculatory fluid amount went drastically down, and my erectile ability decreased quite a bit. I've been to a physician and he has tested my testosterone, my adrenal glands and he says those are normal. Can you please give advice on what hormones to test for impotence in someone as young as me? Also, does a high prolactine level cause impotence and decreased semen?

What all is involved for a man to do in order to receive a prescription for Viagra? Can I just go to the doctor and ask for it, and he'll give me a prescription? I'm a 66-year-old male with no medical problems.

How do you find a competent urologist? In the last three years I have gone to two, both asked questions and neither gave me any physical exam. The first was part of an impotence clinic. He suggested I masturbate. The second gave me a pill made of some African tree bark. I've since read it doesn't work. And then suggested having his nurse show me how to inject myself. Right or wrong I didn't go back to learn how to do this. The doctors on the show all seemed to look at a possible physical cause before prescribing any treatment. Thank you.

My husband had a penile prosthesis inserted a few months ago, and has experienced some disappointment. He had been experiencing gradually increasing impotence for several years and was more than anxious to have this done. Is it possible that because of his dysfunction we both sort of put sex out of our minds, or does it just take a long time to adjust to this method? He has coronary heart disease and takes a great deal of medication. He is 65 and although he has problems, is very active.

When I have an erection only the left half of the penis seems to inflate. I am able to achieve orgasm, but there is discomfort in the penis on the side that is inflated, similar to too much pressure. Is there a reason and a solution?

I'm a 35-year-old man who has visited a vascular specialist to determine if I had any vascular reason I have problems obtaining an erection. The specialist determined I had no vascular problem. He did not suggest anything to help me have an erection. How normal is this, and do you think Viagra would help since I suspect my problem is more mental? My wife wants me to see another doctor.

What is the relationship to sexual dysfunction, if any, to protracted sexual inactivity or abstinence?

Does hernia scar tissue from an operation cause any type of blood flow dysfunction?

My wife has almost no sexual desire. She has had diabetes for 28 years and is on Prozac and Valium. What is the more likely cause of the sexual problem, the diabetes or the medications and what would be the best treatment?

The day after I take Viagra I feel hung over. I have a headache and feel slightly sick. Do the other drugs that are coming onto the market have similar side effects? How do these other drugs cause an erection? I was left impotent as a result of surgery to remove a tumor from my rectum one year ago. I tried the injection therapy and that worked fine. But it is not very appealing. Not my idea of foreplay.

Does a vasectomy cause any of the symptoms of male impotence as one grows older? My sex life and functions were fine before 50 but have gradually diminished. I'm 58 years old now. Would a reversal be possible and would it help me function?

My husband has had a problem with not being able to get as hard as he used to. He gets an erection but it is easily bendable and reduces my pleasure drastically. He also takes much longer to have an orgasm. He is 46 years old and this has been going on for a few years. Would Viagra be a good option for him?

Can I use the vacuum therapy and Viagra at the same time? I am 58 years old with a radical prostate removal because of cancer. The cancer was contained in the prostate. I have not had good success with the injection. I could not get it stiff enough for penetration. I was using 1.0 strength with the injection. The vacuum method does not get it stiff enough for good penetration.

Is there any connection between circumcision and impotence?

What are the preventive actions to take against impotence?

My fiance, who is 37 years old, has trouble maintaining an erection for more than a minute or two. Commonly, he ejaculates *after* his erection has faded. When we do succeed in having intercourse, he ejaculates (and loses his erection) with very little stimulation. In any case, ejaculation for him rarely FEELS like an orgasm. He is not sure when this trouble started, because before meeting me last year, he had not had a sexual partner for 10 years. When my fiance sought medical treatment, the urologist took urine and blood samples and later told him that he was physically "OK." He prescribed an anti-depressant (Paxil), which only made my fiance giddy. What do you recommend? How can we find a doctor in our geographic area who is knowledgable and up-to-date in this field? Also, is there any research into what can cause or prevent male orgasm? It seems that erection, orgasm, and ejaculation are three separate, though related, functions. In our case, none of them seem to be working properly. Thank you for any help you can give us!

I am on blood pressure and diabetes pills and cannot get an erection. My doctor said Viagra would not work for me. Why not?

My dysfunction started with diabetes and is now further complicated by Peyronie's. It has been several years since I have been able to have a normal erection. I have tried the injection in the Drs. office...it proved quite painful due to the bend in the penis. I have been given Viagra to try. If the pill helps with the erection there will still be a severe 90-degree turn in the shaft of the penis, caused by scar tissue (Peyronie's) Is there a surgery available to remove the scar tissue, allowing the shaft to remain straight - and still responsive to the Viagra? I have been told that there is damage to the one side and I will need a graft to fill in space once scar tissue is removed. (At this time my diabetes is controlled with pills and diet. ) I do have fears of undergoing surgery with a potential for infection due to diabetes.

At $10 per tablet, Viagra is expensive. What good reasons can you offer for *not* sparing myself the expense of an office visit and simply getting a small supply from Mexico? Are there real dangers to this? I feel capable of reading and understanding the PDR. All drugs have contraindications to beware. What are those of Viagra?

My partner and I have a wonderful sex life, however, we rarely engage in intercourse. When we try to have intercourse either he loses the erection while putting on a condom (I have tried many distractions during the process) or he will lose the erection during penetration. Once in a great while he will lose the erection while I give him oral sex. When he does maintain his erection thru penetration he often orgasms very quickly and says that it was too intense and he couldn't control it. Is this considered sexual dysfunction?? Or impotence?? Most often we engage in great oral sex instead...When I try to discuss it with him (in a non-threatening way, and when we're not having sex) he says "making a big deal about it only makes it worse." Could it be entirely psychological or combination of problems??

I was an active alcoholic between the ages of 15 and 51. I have not used any addictive drugs in the last nine years. During the last three years I have used testosterone cream and 25 MG 2x/day DHEA supplements in an unsuccessful effort to overcome impotence. Furthermore, I am concerned about the possible cancer threat with their continued use. I have three questions:

I have read books which provide instruction on how to exercise the PC muscle in order to better ejaculation control, and in fact, achieve orgasm without ejaculation. The benefits touted are the ability to maintain an erection after orgasm, more frequent orgasms, better erections, etc.

My experience suggests that a male can experience the physical phenomenon of ejaculation without always experiencing the mental/physical phenomenon of orgasm. Thus, my question concerns the relationship of these, both neurologically and psychologically. I'd also be curious to know if non-human i.e. animals, experience orgasm, or if their brain structures somehow don't allow this.

With all the publicity associated with Viagra, several friends and I have discussed the product and our relative sexual function. We are all in our mid to late 40's, none of us suffer from hypertension or diabetes, we are not on medications. We are all married with children. We are perfectly functional, by that I mean we get erections and would never think of ourselves as impotent. But we have all aged. Our sex drive-libido is not as high. We all realize it comes with aging. What is much more of a disappointment is the diminished firmness of our erections. We all feel it is very noticeable and it is NOT in our heads. It doesn't get as hard as it used to. We can't help but wonder if Viagra enhances blood flow to the penis for someone who doesn't get any erection, would Viagra have the potential to improve blood flow for someone whose blood flow has decreased with aging but is not impotent per se.

I'm 26 and I have not had many sexual experiments. Unfortunately it seems that every time I try with a new girl, I fail to obtain a real erection, though I have no problem obtaining a hard and stable erection via masturbation.

So I wonder if the overwhelming experiment of having pre-sex pleasures with a girl could handicap my capacity of having a real erection afterwards. Is it possible that too much excitation causes temporary impotence because of some organic reason?

And finally, of course, would Viagra help?

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