Suffering from impotency can be an emotionally stressful situation. If you are in this position then the most important thing that you need to know is that it is not uncommon, it is reported that the condition can affect as much as 10 percent of the male population at some point in their lives. Impotency can affect men of any age & is usually the symptom of an underlying psychological or physical cause. It is also important to recognize that modern treatments will almost always provide a solution. This article aims to provide an explanation of the various treatments available for men who suffer from impotence. Should you be displaying symptoms of impotence then you should visit your Doctor as soon as possible. Do not put this off through embarrassment. Doctors deal with these kinds of issues every day & will respect your situation. Also, the longer that you put the problem off, the longer it will take to solve. Remember also to tell your partner or wife. They are not mind-readers & as anxiety can often be a contributing factor in impotence you do not want to add to this by causing strife within your relationship. Once a Doctor has examined you & considered the various causes they will test for diabetes. Should this be ruled out the Doctor will advise on a treatment based up on the causes. These can be physical or psychological treatments or a combination of the two; this is entirely dependent on the perceived causes. If the cause is psychological then you can expect to be offered general advice or counseling. Advice may be simple things such as improving your lifestyle by sleeping more, reducing stress or addressing excess alcohol consumption & stopping smoking. If the Doctor suspects that relationship issues or other related anxieties are the cause then psychotherapy or marriage guidance counseling will probably be recommended. This may also assist in ruling out potential causes. If the Doctor identifies a physiological cause then the corresponding treatment will be recommended. There are currently three main methods to assist in treating men with impotence caused in this way. Doctors will usually prescribe oral tablets in the first instance. Testosterone tablets may be taken if a hormonal imbalance is suspected; otherwise you can expect to be given sildenafil. This is popularly known as Viagra & works by increasing blood flow into the penis. The effects are rapid & can last for around 4 hours. However, there have been many reported side effects such as headaches, dizziness & visual problems. In some cases Viagra may adversely react to medication used to treat heart disease. In recent years, two alternatives have entered the market. Cialis (Tadalafil) & Levitra (Vardenafil) both work in the same way as Viagra but its effects last longer. Although there are some side effects reported, they do not appear to be as severe. Some men prefer to solve impotency with the use of mechanical devices such as a pump. These work by sucking blood into the penis to create an erection. The effects are not for very long & are simply for the purpose of intercourse. If none of the treatments above are successful, then a doctor may recommend surgery. This is uncommon, but can provide a solution. This involves the insertion of splints in to the penis for the purposes of intercourse. Although reported to be successful by some men, the risks of further complications are quite high. Bleeding & infection are the main causes of concern & for this reason surgery is not highly recommended.