Impotence falls into two broad categories, impotence caused by a physical condition and that caused by a psychological condition. Sometimes impotence due to a physical condition may be worsened by a psychological component. The treatment of impotence should always include treatment of the underlying cause as well.

Impotence may be treated with counseling, drugs, surgery, mechanical aids, or some combination of these. Psychological impotence lends itself best to counseling, though anyone with impotence can benefit from counseling on coping mechanisms and available treatment options. As far as drugs go, some drugs may cause impotence and replacing or removing them from an individual’s treatment plan may take care of the problem. If testosterone deficiency is the cause, replacement therapy can be started. Some drugs such as Viagra and Cialis, can be taken by mouth and act by relaxing smooth muscle in blood vessels, allowing them to carry more blood to the penis. Other drugs that also relax smooth muscle in blood vessels can be injected into the side of the penis with a tiny needle, or inserted into the tip of the male urethra in pellet form using a special applicator.

Surgical treatment options for impotence include different types of penile implants, surgery to slow down the flow of blood out of the penis, and surgery to improve the flow of blood into the penis. In some people, the use of a vacuum device or a penile splint may help the penis stay upright.

There are several lifestyle changes that may both treat impotence and prevent it. These include quitting smoking, losing weight, being physically active, treating high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and reducing stress. Besides improving sex drive and the ability to enjoy sexual intercourse, such changes can also help improve other underlying medical conditions.