Organic impotence is often called an inability to get an erection firm enough for vaginal penetration. In some patients organic impotence is the inability to keep the erection during sexual intercourse. The other type of impotence is referred to as psychogenic impotence. This type of impotence is afflicted mostly by emotional issues such as anxiety, guilt, stress, depression, conflicts between partners. Of these two types, the organic impotence is more common. Organic impotence is often called physical because it is mostly caused by physical conditions.
Organic impotence is very common, about 15- 20% of men in their 40-50 years of old and 30-40% of elderly men have sexual problems concerning inability to have an erection. Organic impotence is a serious health problem by itself, but it is also a marker of other health issues which can be as serious as diabetes, heart disease or atherosclerosis.
The evaluation of the type of impotence requires special clinical tests helping to determine its organic or psychogenic causes.
The medical history of a patient is the first step to diagnose the impotence in men. The problems with erection should be discussed with a doctor in full details: when they begin, how long a patient suffers from impotence, what other conditions he has.
To identify the type of impotence a doctor needs a full patient’s history, physical and laboratory data. Different diseases can be the cause of impotence in men (cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, nerve damage and others). Other common causes can be trauma to the genitals, the use of certain medications and abuse of alcohol.