Men go through many problems that they are shy to tell or pretend to be okay with. However these problems can create a lot of problems further in their life when they have a family. Impotence and infertility are two of the most common problems that men face. Both of these problems are very serious and cause complication in life but many people believe it to be same. Impotence is basically a condition where you face problems in erection, whereas in case of infertility is inability to produce sperm. Today we will look at difference between these both conditions and help you understand causes and treatment for both these conditions.
Impotence vs Infertility
Today we have Dr. Pankaj Aggarwal, Head of Urology Department in Vozart Healthcare Hospital, Kanpur. He told us that impotence and infertility are both very different conditions and should not be mistaken for one. A person may get impotent because of some injury or some other problem that are mostly external. But infertility is usually caused because of some underlying health condition that creates a barrier in production or sperm or release of it. Infertility makes a person suffer in sexual intercourse and physical relationship may get ruined because of this condition.
The cause and symptoms of both these conditions are different to each other. The point is that erection is a combined result of many different body organs working together to make it happen. Infertility in males could just be because of some infection, low sperm count, hormones or obstacles that hinder sperm production.
What are the Causes for Impotence?
Impotence may happen if any of the functions that make erection occur do not work or coordinate properly with the body. It needs nervous system, muscles and blood vessels majorly to coordinate with each other. Having issue with any of these systems of organs may cause impotence. Here are some conditions that could affect your erection process-
- Problem with blood vessels
- Depression
- Mood disorder
- Diabetes mellitus
- Having performance stress or stress in mind
- Parkinson’s disease
- High blood pressure
- High cholesterol
- Because of taking blood pressure reduction drugs
- Nerve damage
- Obesity
- Tobacco consumption
- Alcohol or drug abuse
What Causes Infertility?
Well you may find out this condition when you try for pregnancy and your partner does not get pregnant even after several attempts. This could be because of infertility; there are not many conditions that affect infertility, most of the conditions that affect is because of some underlying cause or condition. It is hard to determine infertility in men as compared to impotence because this condition can happen to both men and women and thus you need a medical expert to understand this issue.
Here are some conditions that causes infertility-
- Cancer treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy
- Diseases such as diabetes
- Enlarged veins
- Alcohol abuse
- Exposure to pesticides or toxins
- Premature ejaculation
- Vasectomy
- Infection in testicles
- Due to sexually transmitted diseases
- Condition in which sperm flows into the bladder through penis
Also Read- 8 Unknown Facts About Male Infertility You Must Know
The cause of infertility is mostly unclear until proper diagnosis is done. Dealing with infertility can be quite exhausting as the person may try harder and does not succeed. In fact there are several sexual problems that might also affect sexual person of a man. Infertility is men may result to this further issue because of excessive efforts-
- Swelling in scrotum
- Trouble ejaculating
- Reduced desire
- Problem in sexual functions
Treatment for Impotence
Treating the condition of impotence needs an expert to tell you the exact cause. You need to go to an urologist who deals with such cases and get yourself diagnosed properly. Impotence is such a problem that if it persists for a longer duration it may put strain on your relationships and affect your family as well.
For treating this condition, your doctor may take your physical examination and tests in order to confirm any underlying conditions. Tests such as diabetes, heart disease and hormonal problems could lead to erection problems. After diagnosis you may be given a treatment plan accordingly, it may be possible you need to change your diet and lifestyle in order to prevent further problems.
Medication for Impotence-
- Cialis
- Slidenafil
- Vardenafil
These medications are basically used to increase the blood flow in penis and increase the chances of erection.
Lifestyle changes include-
- Losing weight
- Exercising regularly
- Cutting back on alcohol
- Quitting tobacco and smoking
Apart from this medications and lifestyle changes, you may also be given some medication or treatment for the underlying problem that is diagnosed. You may also be given nitrate drugs for heart disease, low blood pressure disease and other problems. Another medication used to treat impotence is prostaglandin E1 therapy. It can be self injected or with help of suppository into the penis.
Also Read- Do Not Man Up: How Men Can Deal With Depression
Treatment for Infertility in Men
If your partner is trying to conceive for over several months or year, you must consult a gynaecologist or urologist to get yourself examined for infertility. Infertility may not be possible to examine with just physical examination. You also need to get these tests done for the following-
- Blood tests to check hormone levels
- Genetic testing
- Analysis of semen
- Ultrasound or biopsy of the testicles to find out the problem
You may need these treatment options to cure condition of infertility in men. The treatment can be done through using-
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Surgery to treat or cure a physical problem that is related to testicles
- Treatment of an infection or disease that is causing infertility in men
Sometimes, when the treatment goes for long or there is no particular treatment which is able to treat a person having infertility. He may be advised to opt for vitro fertilization or artificial insemination for planning a pregnancy. You need to be open to discuss all options possible with your partner and doctor to ensure correct treatment and happy life.
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