Impotence: 3 Men Fix Problems in the Bedroom

Josh is over 70 and has a wife twenty years younger.  He first came in to the office because of diabetes, but after several visits he admitted he could no longer have a sexual relationship with his wife.  “I’m impotent,” he stated in his matter-of-fact way.  We discussed his problem at length and found that he just couldn’t maintain an erection.

A sexual relationship is more than just for reproduction.  It represents and acknowledges the intimacy and commitment between a husband and wife so it is an ongoing part of a healthy relationship.  In the past, it was considered “normal” to become impotent (a lot of folks don’t like that word, which means “not powerful,” so the doctors now have a new term: “erectile dysfunction”) with age and nobody thought treatment would be an option.  However, since the marketing of the drug Viagra there is a lot more attention paid to this problem.

Josh was on multiple medications for diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension.  All of these medications can lead to erectile dysfunction, so we started him on a diet and exercise program to normalize his numbers and be able to go off of the medications.  Within one year, he was off of all medications and his blood sugar and blood pressure were controlled – and he regained normal sexual function!  In this kind of case, the home cure works better than the prescription drugs, such as Viagra.

Erectile dysfunction is a symptom of vascular disease in other areas of the body.  If the penile blood vessels don’t work properly, then your arteries will be having trouble in other areas – like the heart and brain.  The process of fixing the erectile dysfunction will also correct atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) in the rest of the body.  It’s a win-win!

The other issue with Josh was his medications.  The first thing I do when a man comes in with this problem is to look at any prescription drugs he may be taking; erectile dysfunction is a common side-effect.  In such a case, it would be best to work with a doctor who knows how to help you get off the medication, rather than adding another one.  As you add medications, you multiply their inherent risks.

Very often the first thing men ask about when dealing with impotence is their testosterone levels.  It was postulated that since there was a correlation between the decline in testosterone and the decline in erectile function over time that replacing testosterone would fix erectile dysfunction.  This, however, has not turned-out to be the case.  The rarest of the known causes of impotence is low testosterone.  It seems that some men will have an immediate effect from a dose of testosterone, but further treatment doesn’t prolong that initial benefit.  As with all hormones, enough is enough, and more is not better.

The most important way you can improve your testosterone is by not allowing it to become estrogen.  As men gain fat in their abdomen they make more of an enzyme, called aromatase, which converts testosterone into estrogen.  Many men make the mistake of taking testosterone supplements before addressing this problem, and just end up with more estrogen.  It’s the “belly fat” that contains this enzyme, so it’s important to lose this first.  The best way to lose abdominal fat is to decrease insulin levels.

Insulin is released from the pancreas whenever we eat sugars and starches.  Another almost unknown secret is that you have taste buds in your intestines that affect insulin production, so even the taste of sweet increases insulin.  Therefore, avoid all sweets, even “natural” or artificial sweeteners.  A diet high in fiber is best – the more the better.  Most Americans don’t even get the minimum 20 grams of fiber, much less the recommended 30 to 40 grams.  Lower insulin levels will decrease the “belly fat” and improve your testosterone-estrogen ratio without any supplementation.

Another instructive case for me is Jose.  Jose is in his thirties and has been married for over ten years.  We discussed at length his problem of being unable to have sex with his wife, but we found no problems.  He had no diseases, and was on no medications.  His relationship was OK and he hadn’t had any affairs.  He wasn’t taking street drugs (alcohol and marijuana cause both impotence and a lack of libido).  Then I asked him about pornography and he admitted to staying up all night looking at pictures of women on the internet.  We came to the conclusion that the fantasies he was generating were better than the real thing – to him.  He went to a counselor to help him with his addiction.

With the advent of modern technology people have nearly unlimited access to all sorts of pornographic materials.  Most aren’t aware of how destructive this can be to a marriage until it’s too late.  A real woman can’t compete with a fantasy, and the relationship suffers.  Jose was able to save his marriage because he sought help.

Depression is also a cause of lack of libido.  Men who are depressed find no pleasure in a sexual relationship and often have impotence as a result.  It is important to address the causes of depression first, and the erectile dysfunction will resolve on its own.

Sometimes we don’t find the cause of erectile dysfunction.  Ralph was in his late seventies and married for over fifty years.  He was fit and strong because he worked-out regularly and was very active.  He ate healthy meals, was not overweight, had no detectable heart or vascular disease, and was on no medications.  His testosterone levels were in the low-normal range.  We gave him a trial of testosterone for three months, but it didn’t help.  We ended-up putting him on a regimen of several supplements that improved his function, and his life.

Some supplements for erectile dysfunction:

ZMA – A patented zinc, magnesium and amino acid supplement that is thought to increase the available testosterone.  Take as directed.  It’s a good supplement for men generally because most American men have both zinc and magnesium deficiencies.

L-arginine – An amino acid that increases the NO (nitric oxide) that relaxes the blood vessels and allows erection.  Take 1 to 3 grams three times per day.  Lower doses do not seem to be effective.  Take the lowest effective dose since L-arginine can increase stomach acid and potassium levels.  Don’t use this if you are on blood pressure medications.   It may take a couple of weeks to work.  See this month’s Product Review to order the recommended  L-arginine supplement.

Propionyl-L-Carnitine – Increases cellular energy, improves vascular function, and enhances the effect of testosterone.  Take 2 grams per day.  Give it 2 to 3 weeks to work.