But for a huge proportion of men above the age of 40, impotence is often caused by progressive damage of blood vessels or arteries that supply blood to the male genital organs.
James Wanyama, 45, is in his second marriage. The first one ended after just a year out of irreconcilable differences.
“I felt I like I couldn’t satisfy my wife sexually and it was really painful. We were also struggling to have children and it looked like it was my fault. But I was reluctant to see a doctor early enough out of fear and shame.”
These are some of the challenges that men suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED) — commonly known as impotence — go through.
Those with this condition are unable to get or keep an erection firm enough during sexual intercourse.
The disorder contributes significantly to male infertility by making it difficult for affected men to have sex and thus make their wives or partners pregnant.
“Sex also strengthens the bond you have as a couple. So when you can’t perform, your quality of life reduces. You feel sad, useless and not man enough. These feelings can kill you,” says Mr Wanyama who went into depression as he was unable to cope with the problem.
But after getting psychological help, he later gained courage and sought treatment which enabled him to go back to normal life and give marriage a second chance.
Erectile dysfunction has many causes. But for a huge proportion of men above the age of 40, impotence is often caused by progressive damage of blood vessels or arteries that supply blood to the male genital organs.
Dr Robert Mathenge, heart and blood vessel specialist notes that risk factors for this type of condition — known as artery-based erectile dysfunction — include obesity, smoking, high cholesterol, excessive alcohol consumption, lack of sufficient physical activity, poorly managed or untreated hypertension and diabetes.
“Any of these factors can cause arteries to gradually become narrowed and hardened due to a build-up of dirt (fats, cholesterol and other substance) around their inner walls.”
This eventually leads to blockages or ‘bumps’ that impede the smooth flow of blood — through arteries — into various body organs thus impeding body functions.
“So, when blood supply to the male genital organs is interrupted, they will not perform well, leading to erectile dysfunction.”
As lifestyle diseases such hypertension and diabetes increase due to sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets, health experts are concerned that young people are increasingly suffering from impotence which is disrupting their social lives.
People suffering from erectile dysfunction caused by blocked arteries have been relying on drugs (such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra), which though helpful, do not offer a permanent solution to the problem since they cannot tackle its root cause (damaged arteries).
“You will need to keep taking the drugs anytime you plan to have sex. And when you stop the medicine, the problem will still persist.”
Worse still, the drugs are usually helpful during the early stages of erectile dysfunction when the arteries are partially clogged.
But once the arteries fill up with ‘dirt’, the blockage inhibits so much blood flow, making it hard for the drugs to work effectively.
To address this challenge, doctors at the Equatorial Heart and Blood Vessel Clinic based at the Nairobi Hospital have introduced a new technology known as Low Intensity Shortwave Therapy (LIST) that can offer a permanent solution or cure for erectile dysfunction caused by blocked arteries.
The use of the technology is widespread in developed nations where studies have shown that it cures between 65 per cent and 85 per cent of people with the condition.
The therapy — administered through a probe with the help of a specialised machine on affected male genital organs — uses energy from acoustic (sound) waves to trigger a process known as neo-vascularisation which leads to the formation of new blood vessels that replace the damaged ones.
“This eventually cures or reverses the erectile dysfunction problem permanently by restoring normal blood flow into the male genital organs,” states Dr Mathenge who has used the technology to treat patients with artery-based erectile dysfunction at the clinic.
“Our goal is to work with other doctors — from both the public and private sector — to enhance the use of the technology so it can benefit many Kenyans.”
The availability of the technology locally is also expected to save Kenyans from the hustle and economic hurdles of travelling abroad for the procedure.
Treatment sessions with the therapy may last for 15 to 20 minutes. Patients do not require anaesthesia as they rarely feel pain. However, some men may experience a tingling sensation in the treated areas.
With regards to eligibility for the procedure, Dr Mathenge notes that only patients tested and found to be suffering from erectile dysfunction caused by blocked arteries can benefit from the therapy. They are usually handled by heart and blood vessel specialists who perform the procedure.
“If your type of erectile dysfunction is due to other causes such as stress, injury, low libido, performance anxiety or side-effects of certain medications, then you will need to see urologists and other experts who are trained in addressing such matters.”
According to Dr Mathenge, erectile dysfunction caused by blocked arteries should not be treated as an isolated case since the disorder usually serves as an early indicator that arteries in other parts of the body may not be functioning well.
Doctors are encouraged to check blood sugar, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and heart performance of patients with erectile dysfunction.
“This can lead to early detection and prompt treatment of diseases like diabetes and hypertension before they damage arteries in sensitive organs like the brain or heart leading to adverse outcomes such as strokes and heart attacks.”
“In fact, most people usually complain of weak erections a few months before coming down with a heart attack. So seeking treatment for the condition can be lifesaving.”
Consequently, health experts urge men keen on maintaining their sexual performance as they age to abide by healthy lifestyles that prevent damage to all blood vessels such as exercising regularly, avoiding smoking, having normal blood pressure levels and reducing intake of fatty foods and diets with high cholesterol levels.
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