Kamau waits nervously at the clinic’s reception area.  It has taken him months of anguishing procrastination to finally come here. The past six months have been tough, not only on him, but have also put a strain in his relationship with Hannah, his wife of 25 years. 

The moment he has been dreading finally arrives as the nurse ushers him into the doctor’s office. A man’s inability to maintain an erection or failure to ejaculate is referred to as erectile dysfunction or impotence.

Although this health problem mostly affects men in their old age it can also affect younger men from as early as those in their 20s.

The cause of this health problem is mainly based on physical factors. To a certain extent however, there are emotional factors to it.

There are specific diseases which affect men and cause them to loose their ‘manhood’. Such diseases include diabetes and hypertension. It can also come as a side effect of taking some drugs.

Dr. Richard Butare, of University Hospital explains that the causes of erectile dysfunction are categorised into metabolic, genetal, bacterial and viral.

Butare said that erectile dysfunction has no specific medication, but each case has to be considered and treated uniquely. Viagra has proven  be helpful to for some people.

Diet and lifestyle have a lot to do with type II Diabetes, which is not acquired genetically. High sugar levels increases ones risks of suffering from diabetes which can cause erectile dysfunction.

Obesity, the excessive body weight leading to a lot of fats to weaken the insulin from allowing sugar in blood to enter the muscle and tissues hence becoming resistant to insulin contributes to chances of one suffering from diabetes.

Hypertension is also related to a high blood pressure and amongst others. Hypertension leads to complications in the proper functioning of the man’s body.

Smoking leads to the narrowing of the body nerves which sometimes end-up causing them to block. The youth might ignore this by arguing that it only affects those in old age but the difference here is that when you have diabetes the risks to develop erectile dysfunction are high irrespective of your age.

Maintaining a balanced diet is a very important measure through which one can prevent his body from weakening and this can be achieved by regulating the food consumed.

Exercising is a major contributor to a strong and health body, especially as it improves circulation of blood. 

Erectile dysfunction, like any other physical challenge can be managed and solutions sought to deal with it. 

Contact: mugoyag@yahoo.com