THE AGING MALE
On this page you will find the following two articles:
THE TERMS/THE DEFINITION
It used to be called IMPOTENCE but now is referred to as ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION. It doesn't matter what it is called, it is a major concern for men (and the partners) when it happens. An erectile problem is defined as the inability to get or to maintain an erection sufficiently hard enough to make penetration. Thus, it might be that a man is unable to get an erection, even with stimulation. Another man might get an erection, but lose it before ejaculating. Finally, a man might get partial filling of his erectile tissue, but his penis does not firm up enough to be useful. All of these men are said to have an erectile dysfunction.
Failure to get an erection might happen every time, or sporadically. A man might fail to get an erection with one partner, but not another. The onset of his erectile dysfunction might be gradual or might seem to happen suddenly. The nature of erectile dysfunctions vary.
CAUSES OF ERECTILE DYSFUNCTIONS
Age is a major factor. As a man ages, there is a gradual decline in his ability to get and secure a firm erection. The process slows and the quality begins to wax and wane. Perhaps the biggest cause of erectile problems for older men is the narrowing of their blood vessels. As young men they were pumping blood into their penises through a garden hose, but at 70, they are trying to accomplish the same thing through a soda straw!
Other illnesses and disabilities will disrupt the process of becoming erect. Certain medications also will cause sexual dysfunctions. Stress, anger and relationship problems will also interfere.
Perhaps the biggest cause of erectile failure among younger health men is PERFORMANCE ANXIETY. This has been called the "I gotta" syndrome. The man is worrying about his performance and saying to himself, "I gotta get it up... I gotta get it in... I gotta finish the performance." With a severe case of the "I gottas," a man ain't going ta! The FEAR OF FAILURE, although psychological, can devastate a man's ability to become erect... and even to stay erect. Such men are monitoring their penises, watching to see how they are doing. Masters and Johnson called this "spectatoring." The man actually becomes a spectator of his own performance (or lack thereof).
The fear of failure is a form of mild panic. For some men, this is enough to trigger their built-in, hard-wired "fight of flight panic response." Their bodies automatically flood with adrenaline, and this causes superficial blood vessels to constrict, forcing blood into the larger muscles that would be needed to run or fight. In the process, the vessels carrying blood to the penis are unable to do their job and the erection fails. The fear of failure often precipitates what it was that was feared!
HELP FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION
When erectile dysfunction is the result of a physical cause, it is called BIOGENIC or ORGANIC. When the problem is caused by anxiety or other psychological factors, it is referred to as PSYCHOGENIC erectile dysfunction. Ofter there is an overlapping of the biogenic and psychogenic, as with an aging male who would naturally be taking more time, but begins to worry that he is no longer responding as he did when he was twenty years younger. His age might have slowed him down, but his worry can wipe him out completely! Sex therapy is very effective in treating the psychogenic aspects of erectile dysfunction, particularly if there is a cooperative partner. Of course, today there is Viagra!
©2001 Robert W. Birch, Ph.D.
Viagra
VIAGRA ®
What Is VIAGRA ®?
VIAGRA ®, a product of Pfizer Pharmaceutical Company, is a pill used to help a man with erectile dysfunction (impotence). It can help many men who have erectile dysfunction get and keep an erection when they become sexually excited (stimulated). It does not "cure" the underlying problem, and a man will not get an erection simply by taking this medicine. VIAGRA ® is not a magic bullet! helps a man with erectile dysfunction get an erection only when he is sexually excited. This means, he first must feel some desire and he must then get sufficient and effective erotic stimulation.
How VIAGRA ® Works
In many men with erectile dysfunction, VIAGRA ® will help the body's natural erection process. When a man is sexually aroused, the spongy cylinders within the penis fill with enough blood to cause the penis to enlarge and become firmness. After having ejaculated, the blood rapidly drains, and the erection goes away. This softening of the penis typically becomes more rapid as the man ages.
Pfizer explains the process as follows: "Sildenafil citrate (Viagra) works on an enzymatic level. It suppresses the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5), which naturally occurs in erectile tissue. Phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) breaks down the body chemical known as cyclic GMP. Cyclic GMP is produced during arousal and causes muscular and vascular changes, which lead to an erection. Men who don't produce a sufficient amount of cyclic GMP will have problems achieving an erection. Likewise, men with high levels of the enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) will have problems maintaining an erection."
VIAGRA ® Is Not for Everyone
Sildenafil citrate will not produce the same results in all men. This is the case because for cyclic GMP to do its job in the first place, there have to be specific receptors. Men who genetically have a large number of receptor sites for cyclic GMP are more likely to produce better erections than those with a smaller number. It's a variation in the human race that cannot be corrected by sildenafil citrate.
Many younger men believe that Viagra will turn them into super stars in the bedroom. However, sildenafil citrate has only little effect in many younger men who do not suffer from erectile dysfunction. This is because sildenafil citrate will only work when erectile dysfunction is caused by either an insufficient amount of cyclic GMP, or by an overly active enzyme phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5). Either condition is more likely to be present in older men than it is in younger men.
VIAGRA ® is only for patients with erectile dysfunction. VIAGRA ® is not for women. Research is being conducted, however, to evaluate the effectiveness of the medication for females with low sexual desire or a difficulty in becoming aroused. Until the results are known, we do not recommend the use of VIAGRA ® by women. he topical cremes for women are effrective.)
Some Warnings
Do not let anyone else take your VIAGRA ®.
VIAGRA ® must be used only under a doctor's supervision.
VIAGRA ® must never be used by men who are taking any medicines that contain nitrates. Nitrates are found in many prescription medicines that are used to treat angina (chest pain due to heart disease) such as:
nitroglycerin (sprays, ointments, skin patches or pastes, and tablets that are swallowed or dissolved in the mouth)
isosorbide mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate (tablets that are swallowed, chewed, or dissolved in the mouth)Nitrates are also found in illicit drugs such as amyl nitrate or nitrite ("poppers"). If you are not sure if any of your medicines contain nitrates, or if you do not understand what nitrates are, ask your doctor or pharmacist. If you take VIAGRA ® with any nitrate medicine or illicit drug containing nitrates, your blood pressure could suddenly drop to an unsafe level. This could lead to dizziness, fainting, or even have heart attack or stroke.
What VIAGRA ® Does Not Do
VIAGRA ® does not cure erectile dysfunction. It is a treatment for erectile dysfunction.
VIAGRA ® does not protect you or your partner from getting sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV-the virus that causes AIDS.
VIAGRA ® is not a hormone or an aphrodisiac. It will not cause you to have sexual desire.
What are the Possible Side Effects?
Like all medicines, VIAGRA ® can cause some side effects. These effects are usually mild and do not last long. Some of these side effects are more likely to occur with higher doses.
VIAGRA ® is generally well tolerated. Side effects are rare, but if experienced they are usually mild and temporary.
The following is a list of the most common side effects.
Best source of information Your best source of information is your doctor. However, if you want to learn as much as you can before consulting your physician, go to Pfizer's Viagra web site.
- Headache
- Flushing
- Upset Stomach
- Stuffy Nose
- Urinary Tract Infection
- Visual changes such as mild and temporary changes in blue/green colors
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Diarrhea
Viagra® is a product of and a registered trademark of Pfizer, Inc. Nothing stated on the OralCaress.com website shall be interpreted as expressing or implying that Pfizer, Inc., has authorized or approved any statement herein, or that there is any relationship between PEC Publishing or Dr. Robert Birch and Pfizer, Inc.
"During my practice as a sex therapist, I met many men who have found Viagra to be very well tolerated and of great benefit in obtaining and maintaining satisfactory erections. As a sex therapist, I have appreciated the fact that Viagra is not magic that works automatically. However, it does work wonderfully well in most cases where the partners are both interested, patient and sensual in their foreplay. With physical and psychological stimulation, men who have been diagnosed as having an erectile dysfunction do remarkably well!"
...Robert W. Birch, Ph.D., Sexologist & Adult Sexuality Educator © ViagraOvernight.com
Learn how you can order Viagra on-line and receive fast confidential delivery.
Residents of the United Kingdom, check out the Mens Care site. DISCLAIMER Robert W. Birch, Ph.D., Author, host, and webmaster of http://oralcaress.com, is a retired sex therapist and, when in active practice, was a licensed psychologist. Dr. Birch is not and never has been a medical doctor and cannot prescribe medication. Dr. Birch is an affiliate of viagraovernight.com and MensCare.biz for the purpose of information only. The determination of who can receive medication online is the responsibility of the website's physicians.
For the appropriate physical examination and medical supervision, it is always best to consult your personal physician!"
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