• What causes male impotence and premature ejaculation?
• Restoring the joy of sex to your life

For many, many years impotence has been a taboo subject in polite circles. After all, you are even less likely to tell your best pal you cannot perform in bed than youare to tell him he has B.O.!

No-one wants to be the butt of pub or club gossip. Impotence can breed many fears and anxieties and among these is the fear of ridicule.

The reason, no doubt, is that the sufferer feels humiliated and that his masculinity has been eroded. As a result, in many cases he simply gives up any attempt to lead a normal sex life.

Impotence is perhaps the least openly discussed yet most privately feared condition any man can suffer from. This is very sad - not only because it can irretrievably harm what was once a happy, loving marriage or even stop a potential relationship from developing - but because the majority of cases can be treated highly successfully.

A surprisingly large number of men suffer from the condition - which can be summed up as the inability to obtain an erection which is hard enough to achieve penetration or to maintain an erection for long enough to satisy his partner.

One in 10 of adult men

It has been estimated that one in ten of adult men suffer from persistent erectile dysfunction - and that means a total of around 3 million in Britain. Furthermore, there is a considerable increase in its occurrence - to around 40% - after the age of 50.

The sufferer is obviously not alone, has nothing to feel ashamed of - and should not be frightened of seeking specialist help.

It was once thought that in 90% of cases the primary cause of impotence was psychological but research has show that in over 75% of cases physiological or organic problems are at its root - and these are frequently aggravated by psychological factors such as 'performance anxiety'.

Illnesses which may affect erections include diabetes, multiple sclerosis, spinal tumours or injuries, poor ciculation, kidney or liver failure, thyroid deficiency, heart conditions and major pelvic surgery.

Drugs can cause erectile problems

Certain drugs, when consumed in large doses, can also cause erectile problems and these include alcohol, nicotine, 'hard' drugs such as cocaine and heroin, amphetamines, tranquilisers, sleeping pills and anti-depressants and certain tablets prescribed for blood pressure, heart conditions and peptic ulcers.

Moderate consumption of alcohol and nicotine may also cause impotence in men who come into the 'high risk' category because of medical problems.

There are also cases where impotence is caused by leaking blood vessels which prevent the penis from becoming erect because the blood is being drained out of it faster than it is being pumped in.

This can be corrected by a simple operation but further specialised treatment may be necessary for a short time to help the sufferer overcome performance anxiety.

Lack of confidence or 'lack of use'

A considerable number of impotent men, however, do not suffer from any clinical problems. Among these, the most common causes are likely to be lack of confidence or 'lack of use'.

A young man who feels sexually insecure may fail at his first attempt to have intercourse. The next time he finds himself wondering how things are going to go. And if he fails again he will start to worry about his virility with a resulting lack of confidence.

He may also be afraid that the girl with whom he attempted to have sex will 'kiss and tell' and that he will become an object of fun among her friends.

As a result, he may be too frightened to try again. Yet the chances that there is anything clinically wrong with him are slight - he simply fears failure.

Hormone replacement therapy

A similar kind of fear can affect the middle-aged or older man who has not been sexually active for some years. He may be divorced or widowed or simply party to a marriage from which the fire has gone because the relationship has become tired in the nicest possible way - and sexual activity has gradually diminished.

The latter may encounter performance problems is his wife is prescribed Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), a treatment which is being increasingly recommended for middle-aged women.

They go on this treatment for a variety of reasons, the most common being to ease symptoms of the menopause and to prevent the 'brittle bone syndrome' which affects many women as they age.

And in many cases an unexpected side effect is a greatly increased sexual appetite!

Failure tends to breed failure

The husband often finds it difficult to respond and the more anxious he becomes about his performance the worse things get. Fear, anxiety and worry are all negative factors which engender frustration and failure tends to breed failure.

The man who, through divorce or widowhood, has not had a sexual relationship for some years may find himself with the same problem when he eventually meets someone with whom he desires to form a deep relationship. If his first few attempts at love-making end in failure his self-confidence will suffer a big blow. And as a result of the erectile function 'going wrong' it could well stay wrong because of the psychological hang-ups caused - unless appropriate treatment is sought.

Impotence is certainly more common in older men, but the fact that you are getting on in years does not mean that you have no alternative but to accept it. Whether you are young, middle-aged or elderly, half of your problem is facing up to it and then seeking specialist help from a reputable clinic. One with a proven track record which has now helped over ten thousand men resume a normal sex life.

What causes premature ejaculation?

Impotence is not the only male sexual problem to cause heartache and distress. A considerable number of men also suffer from premature ejaculation (PE) - one of the most common sexual dysfunctions in men.

When a man suffers this condition ejaculation occurs before, during or very shortly after penetration and as a result both he and his partner suffer worry and frustration. Men with PE often shy away from sexual contact altogether, but in the majority of cases they can be helped to achieve a satisfactory love life.

The causes of PE can be psychological or physical and in the main two specific groups are likely to be affected - the young and sexually inexperienced and the man in his middle years.

Young men generally suffer what is known as Primary PE. They may have been born with a very short latent period between sexual contact and ejaculation occurring, but anxiety can also be a cause, particularly if the young man suspects that his genital organs are smaller than the norm. Psychological factors of a certain type of upbringing can also be the root of the problem.

Where the middle aged man is concerned, Secondary PE can start to manifest itself shortly after he has already noticed that the quality of his erections is receding. This can be a sign of the onset of impotence. He will be very distressed about this state of affairs, but his dual problem can be treated highly successfully and so can the primary condition suffered by the younger man. The first step is to seek specialist help, and the sooner the better.

Over the years a number of treatments have become available to rectify the problem of male impotence. And each has been developed and improved with time. You may have read elsewhere about hormonal treatments, vaso-active tablets, injection therapy, medicated patches, mechanical aids and psychotherapy.

In their own way each of these treatments has been shown to be effective to a greater or lesser extent. The important consideration, which the Central Potency Clinic recognises, is that any particular treatment for a man - and his partner - must be 'tailor-made'.

This is why our medical and counselling staff will take into account your own particular circumstances. Then, in agreement with you, prescribe a course of treatment specifically designed for your own needs.

New and safe ways of dealing with male impotence and premature ejaculation were introduced into Britain in 1986. The pioneering work was carried out by our clinics, whose doctors have now helped over ten thousand men resume a normal sex life.

The most experienced medical team in Europe

When considering the treatment, you can feel confident that you will be attended  to by the most experienced medical team in Europe. Should you seek treatment at our clinics you will first be seen by a counsellor who will take details of your medical history. This information will then be assessed by a doctor who specialises in the treatment of impotence.

The doctor will check your circulation, blood pressure and pulses. He will also listen to your heart and lungs, test your central nervous system and examine your abdomen.

Following appropriate diagnosis,the doctor will explain the options available to you and, further to discussions, show you how to use the treatment. Afterwards you will be able to continue with it in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

You will be surprised how quickly you see and feel results. And from then on you will be in full control of your own sex life, and able to achieve an erection every time you want to make love.

What's more, the treatment available from our clinics not only has a proven track record - it is safer than Aspirin and patients are usually agreeably surprised to discover that costs are a great deal less than they expect.

Many patients find they can achieve spontaneous erections

You will see the doctor again after a period of four weeks and, on the basis of your progress report to him, he will be able to adjust the strength of your treatment to ensure the best possible results. And after a period of time, many patients will find they can achieve spontaneous erections.

One of our consultants finds that in very many cases the ability to lead an absolutely normal sex life is achieved within a matter of months, with the patient no longer having to rely on any form of treatment to produce an erection.

"On the other hand, where men with medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, arterio-sclerosis and Parkinson's disease are concerned impotence may be related to the debilitating condition," he says.

"Those in this group are likely to have to continue treatment indefinitely. But there is absolutely no reason why they should not enjoy a full and satisfying sex life."