Men suffering from a hernia can also become impotent. A hernia is an abnormal protrusion commonly found in the abdominal wall, but can occur in other areas of the body as well. Patients are generally unaware that their bout with impotence can be directly related to a hernial condition, and can be helped.
Instructions
Impotence and Hernia
1. Surgery may be required. Impotence, or erectile dysfunction (ED), is the inability to maintain an erection, and is usually a symptom of a disease, rather than a problem on its own. Unlike most hernias that are possible causes of impotence, an indirect inguinal hernia is a direct cause of ED; in this case, the hernia becomes strangulated, and descends into the groin. Surgery releases the protrusion and prevents further damage from the strangulated hernia, relieving impotence.
2. Consult your doctor regarding ED medications. If surgery does not provide impotence relief, the medication being taken for the treatment of the hernia could be the culprit. Stress and medication cause decreased blood circulation, and induce temporary impotence in men. Prescription ED medications, such as Viagra, help to relieve this condition.
3. Use a vacuum constriction device (VCD). The VCD is an acrylic cylinder that is placed at the end of the penis. The band on the pump is placed at the other end and a vacuum is created, causing the penis to become erect. The pump creates the erection, and the band maintains it.
4. Try alternative treatments. Nutritional supplements, such as zinc, vitamin C and flaxseed meal, improve ED. Eating herbs, like ginseng, also assists in recovery from impotence. Acupuncture combats ED through targeted treatment of blood vessels.
5. Therapy can help. Stress from medication, surgery, illness or having the hernia itself can lead to erection problems. Psychotherapy reduces stress, and allows normal function to return.
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