The following list summarizes the important factors of your medical history that you should consider when per-forming a self-evaluation in connection with possible erectile dysfunction:
- Cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes mellitus
- Endocrine (glandular) problems, other than diabetes
- Neurological disorders
- Pelvic surgery and radiation therapy
- Accidents to the head, spinal cord, and pelvic area
- Exposure to known environmental hazards
Men with a history that includes some type of cardiovascular disease should definitely be aware of a possible link with impotence. This is especially true for individuals with heart disease, blood vessel disease, or hypertension or those who have experienced coronary artery bypass surgery. A history of any of these problems, combined with frequent impotence episodes and any possible symptoms observed in the simple vascular tests, strongly indicates the need to seek professional assistance.
Given the strong link between impotence and diabetes, any man with a known case of diabetes should be on the lookout for impotence symptoms, and should be prepared to seek assistance, even if such symptoms have not yet appeared. It is a primary responsibility of any physician treating a diabetes patient to explain the possible sexual ramifications of the disease and to encourage consultation with specialists on sexual dysfunction when indicated. All older men should be on the lookout for possible diabetes symptoms, as the disease often occurs later in life in marginal form and may take a while to be detected. A real warning sign would be a combination of impotence, renal (kidney), and retinal (eye) problems.
Individuals with known glandular disorders, other than diabetes, should consider the possibility of a connection with any impotence symptoms that are being experienced. This is particularly true should you have a history of pituitary and adrenal gland disorders. Men with known problems of the testicles, particularly those associated with inadequate testosterone production, should also be prepared to seek professional attention when impotence symptoms are noted. The same advice applies to men with known problems of the thyroid. When there are no known glandular problems, the presence of extreme obesity chronic fatigue, breast enlargement and other feminine characteristics, and erectile dysfunction can be an indication that such problems may very well exist.
Neurological disorders are generally believed to be of lesser importance as underlying causes of impotence than cardiovascular disease or diabetes. Men with known nervous system disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson’s dis-ease, and multiple sclerosis, however, should be aware of the possible connection, and are advised to seek professional help when experiencing impotence symptoms. Impotence is also linked to various types of brain tumors, which is another good reason not to neglect the presence of persistent impotence symptoms.
Any man who has experienced major surgery or radiation therapy- in time pelvic region, especially procedures involving the prostate gland, anus, rectum, bladder, and colon, should seek professional help if impotence symptoms are experienced. Usually, impotence shows -up fairly soon after such procedures, although the onset of the problem can be delayed. Men scheduled for such surgery should always discuss the possibility of impotence in advance with their physician, in the hope that a problem can be avoided or at least minimized.
Individuals who have experienced accidental injuries to time head, spinal cord, and pelvic area are also advised to obtain professional help -whenever frequent impotence episodes are noted_ It would be helpful to ask the parents or other relatives of a patient about his past injuries or accidents because major childhood injuries, which the patient may have completely- forgotten, can be a cause of adult impotence. This can be the case especially- with injuries that took place to young boys while they were in a straddle position, such as when riding a bicycle_ Straddle injuries can be particularly serious as sharp blows to the perineum (crotch) and the pelvic bone may result in damage to the arteries supplying blood to the penis or scar erectile tissues in that portion of the penis inside the body.
Environmental health is an increasingly important medical specialty. If you were exposed to any known environmental hazard as a child or have worked in occupations where there has been a chance of exposure to toxic chemicals or radiation, you should note this in your self-evaluation. A partial list of hazardous materials that may be encountered on the job include lead, mercury, cadmium, beryllium, pesticides, and industrial solvents. Exposure to hazardous materials and radiation can result in impotence due to nerve damage, although the possibility does exist of damage to internal organs, which, in turn, may contribute to erectile dysfunction. Lead poisoning can be particularly damaging to the peripheral nervous system. Lead-based paints are no longer permitted for inside use, but the possibility exists for exposure, especially to children raised in older homes.
Review Your Use of Prescription and Nonprescription Drugs
The link between impotence and many frequently used medications is discussed, along with a listing of many of the problem drugs currently in use today. It is important to recognize that because new drugs are constantly being introduced in the pharmaceutical field, no listing of problem drugs will ever be complete. Fortunately, many newer drugs are much improved with respect to impotence and other side effects, but that is not always the case. If information on any drug that you are taking or will be taking has not been provided by your regular physician, you would be well advised to consult the latest edition of the Physicians’ Desk Reference published annually by Medical Economics Company, Oradell, New Jersey. This book, commonly known as the “PDR,” is usually found at better public libraries. The contents of the PDR are now also on computer and your physician may have access through a data network. The Physicians’ Desk Reference for Nonprescription Drugs, by the same publisher, provides information on the side effects of over-the-counter products.
The American Urological Association (AUA) has in the past published a listing of drugs linked to sexual dysfunction.
Any man who has been using a prescription drug linked to impotence should not immediately discontinue its use upon becoming aware of that fact. This sometimes happens, particularly in the case of men using medications for high blood pressure. Such men, of course, subject themselves to the long-term danger of strokes, heart attacks, and other problems. With some drugs, precipitous withdrawal can present a very real and immediate danger. The best course of action is to first talk with the physician who has prescribed the suspected drug. Some-times an alternative medication is available, with lesser side effects. Should your physician be unresponsive, get a second opinion before discontinuing the drug.