If you think you are suffering from impotence, your doctor can conduct series of tests to determine what the cause of impotence is. The doctor will typically interview you about many physical and psychological factors. Medical and sexual histories help define the nature and severity of impotence. Medical history will help to find out the causes that lead to impotence. In some cases doctors might interview the partner also to obtain accurate history.
Past and present medical problems, history of psychological problems like anxiety or stress, medication being used are considered for finding out the cause of impotence. History of using illegal or banned drugs can be the chemical cause of impotence. Doctor will enquire about all the medications taken over the past year including dietary supplements. Tobacco use, alcohol intake and caffeine intake is also considered.
Different types of treatments are used to cure impotence depending on the cause of it.
- Psychotherapy is used for treating impotence causes due to psychological factors.
- Vacuum devices - By creating partial vacuum, mechanical vacuum devices create erection. They work by drawing blood into the penis, engorging and expanding it.
- Drug therapy - FDA approved oral medicines Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are quite effective. They all work in almost same way. These are prescription drugs and need sexual stimulation for working.
- Surgery - Implanting a device that will cause the penis to erect, reconstruct arteries to increase the flow of blood, to block the veins that allow the blood to leak from the penis tissue are some of the types of surgeries to cure impotence.
Most of the doctors suggest less insidious treatment for impotence and if that does not work they move to most insidious treatment. That is they first suggest stopping intake of drug that they think is harmful, psychotherapy is considered next, followed by drug therapy, vacuum device and surgery.
