What is the Difference Between ED and Impotence

The two terms ED and impotence are often used interchangeably. These terms are related but not the same. Both of them interfere with sexual reproduction and healthy family planning. However, they are treatable with proper medical guidance.

The key difference between ED and impotence is their nature. ED is a condition associated with a man’s inability to achieve or maintain an erection, while impotence is a condition associated with problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, a lack of sexual desire, and problems related to orgasms or ejaculations.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is ED  
3. What is Impotence
4. Similarities – ED and Impotence
5. ED vs Impotence in Tabular Form
6. Summary – ED vs Impotence
7. FAQ – ED and Impotence

What is ED?

ED (erectile dysfunction) refers to a man’s inability to get or maintain an erection long enough for sexual pleasure. It can be caused by a number of physical reasons like obesity, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, high cholesterol, deficiency of testosterone, multiple sclerosis, and spinal cord complications. Psychological factors such as performance anxiety may also cause ED.

Figure 01: ED

ED can be diagnosed through questionnaires, physical examinations, and lab tests. Furthermore, treatment options for ED may include taking PDE-5 inhibitors, counseling, lifestyle changes like weight loss, usage of vacuum devices, and addressing specific underlying issues.

What is Impotence?

Impotence refers to problems that interfere with sexual intercourse, reproduction, a lack of sexual desire, and problems with orgasms or ejaculations. In addition to males, females may also be affected by this condition due to physical changes or conditions that impact their intimacy. Causes of impotence in males may include diabetes, sexual fears, high blood pressure, alcoholism, nerve injury, Peyronie’s disease, prostate cancer, depression, and pharmaceutical drugs. On the other hand, the causes of impotence in females include cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, bladder problems, hormonal issues (low estrogen levels), depression, and anxiety.

Impotence can be diagnosed through sexual and medical history, pelvic examinations, and blood tests. Furthermore, treatment options for impotence may include following a healthy lifestyle, counseling, using vaginal lubricants, and moisturizers, addressing underlying issues, taking oral drugs (PDE5 inhibitors), intracavernosal (ICI) and urethra (IU) therapies, self-injection therapy, and surgical therapy.

Similarities Between ED and Impotence

1. ED and impotence are terms often used interchangeably.
2. These conditions can be observed predominantly in men.
3. Both interfere with sexual reproduction and healthy family planning
4. Both can be diagnosed through physical examination and lab tests.
5. They can be treated through specific medications and therapies.

Difference Between ED and Impotence

Definition

1. ED is the difficulty in getting or keeping an erection that is firm enough for sex.
2. Impotence is associated with problems that interfere with sexual intercourse, reproduction, a lack of sexual desire, and problems with orgasm or ejaculation.

Who Suffer

1. Only men suffer from ED.
2. Men and women are both affected by impotence.

Causes

1. ED can be caused by a number of physical factors such as obesity, diabetes, heart disease, Parkinson’s disease, high cholesterol, deficiency of testosterone, multiple sclerosis, spinal cord complications, and psychological factors such as performance anxiety, work stress, relationship issues, stress from social, cultural or religious conflicts and worry about sexual performance.
2. The causes of impotence in males may include diabetes, sexual fears, high blood pressure, alcoholism, nerve injury, Peyronie’s disease, prostate cancer, depression, and pharmaceutical drugs, while the causes of impotence in females may include cancer, diabetes, kidney failure, multiple sclerosis, heart disease, and bladder problems, low estrogen level, depression, and anxiety.

Symptoms

1. The symptoms of ED include difficulty keeping an erection, low self-esteem, depression, and distress for the man and his partner.
2. The symptoms of impotence include problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, a lack of sexual desire, problems related to orgasm or ejaculation, difficulty getting or staying aroused during sex, and pain when having sex.

Diagnosis

1. ED can be diagnosed through health history, questionnaires, physical examination, and lab tests.
2. Impotence can be diagnosed through sexual and medical history, pelvic examination, and blood tests (hormone testing).

Treatment

1. Treatment options for ED include taking drugs called PDE-5 inhibitors, counseling, following lifestyle changes, using vacuum devices, and addressing the specific underlying issues.
2. Treatment options for impotence include following a healthy lifestyle, counseling, using vaginal lubricants, moisturizers, addressing underline issues, taking oral drugs (PDE5 inhibitors), intracavernosal (ICI) and urethra (IU) therapies, self-injection therapy, and surgical therapy.

Below is a summary of the difference between ED and impotence in tabular form for side by side comparison.

Summary – ED vs Impotence

Many people have problems during sex, which affects their sexual reproduction and family planning.  Stress, illness, medicines, or emotional problems can contribute to sexual problems. ED and impotence are two terms that are often used interchangeably. However, they are different. ED is where a man may lose an erection earlier than desired, while impotence is problems that interfere with sexual intercourse and reproduction, a lack of sexual desire, and problems with orgasm or ejaculation. Furthermore, men are predominantly affected by ED, whereas both men and women are affected by impotence. This summarizes the difference between ED and impotence.

FAQ: ED and Impotence

1. What is a sexual problem called?

• Sexual problems are also called sexual dysfunctions and sometimes as sexual disorders. Sex can be an important part of the health and quality of life, so dealing with sexual problems can be tough physically and emotionally.

2. What is the main cause of erectile dysfunction?

• Physical issues like heart disease, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and smoking can cause erectile dysfunction. Moreover, psychological factors such as performance anxiety may also cause ED.

3. How to increase blood flow to the penis?

• Ways to increase blood flow to the penis may include eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, maintaining a healthy weight, exercising, reducing stress, and stopping smoking.

4. What drugs make you erect?

• A healthcare professional may prescribe an oral medicine to help people get and maintain an erection. Some of these include sildenafil (Viagra) vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn) tadalafil (Cialis).

5. What is the best way to fix impotence?

• Treatment options for impotence include cardiovascular exercises, quitting smoking, talking to a sex therapist, taking oral medications, using vacuum constriction devices, testosterone replacement therapy, penile implant procedures, using vaginal lubricants and moisturizers, addressing underlying issues, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Reference:

1. “Erectile Dysfunction.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.
2. “Female Sexual Dysfunction.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Common causes of erectile dysfunction” By Click2pharmacy.co.uk Images – (CC BY 2.0) via Commons Wikimedia

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