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Impotence or erectile dysfunction is a very common problem that affects 20 million (1 out of 5) American Men. Erectile dysfunction is the result of a single, or more commonly a combination of multiple factors. At one time impotence was thought to be the result of psychological problems, but we now know that 90% of the cases are organic in nature. Some of the many causes of impotence include, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart and vascular disease, stress, hormone problems, pelvic surgery, trauma, venous leak, and side effects of frequently prescribed medications. No matter what the cause, most men have a secondary psychological reaction that can worsen the situation. Feelings of performance anxiety, guilt, and low self-esteem are common.

For many years impotence was a problem that was not talked about because of its personal nature. Men suffering from this condition often do not know about the various treatment options available to them and do not seek help. One mission of the Center for Male Reproductive Medicine is to educate men about erectile dysfunction and provide them with effective, cost-efficient and rapid solutions which they can use to restore an active and gratifying sex life. We believe in the “goal-oriented” approach to impotence and, as such, rarely recommend costly vascular and sleep studies which can be useful in diagnosis, but offer no practical solutions. Usually within 1-2 visits, and at a cost of under $400, a successful treatment program can be established for most men.
Penile Anatomy & Physiology

A basic knowledge of how a normal erection occurs is necessary to better understand the causes and treatments of erectile dysfunction . The penis is a highly vascular organ that fills with blood in the excited state to produce an erection. The penile artery brings blood to the penis and the dorsal penile veins allow blood return to the body. The penis is composed of three chambers, the paired corpra cavernosa and the corpus spongiosum. The corpus spongiosum contains the urethra or “urine” channel on the underside of the penis. The corpus cavernosum is the erectile body responsible for providing rigidity to the penis. It contains “spongy” vascular tissue surrounded by a tough elastic covering (tunica albuginea).

When a man is aroused a signal from the brain travels down the spinal cord and along the pelvic nerves to the penis. These nerves which travel alongside the rectum and prostate terminate at the penile artery and “spongy ” tissue. Chemical signals from the nerves cause the arteries to enlarge and allow increased blood flow into the penis. The spaces in the spongy tissue fill with blood and the penis begins to elongate (figure below).