Sexual dysfunction, also termed impotence, is one of the most prevalent conditions seen in the population, most particularly among the older males. A condition which may have a physical or a psychological origin, impotence continues to be one of the most “humiliating and demeaning” health concerns worldwide.

Impotence is outstandingly prevalent as the age advances. Roughly, in the United States alone, 18 to 30 million American males are likely affected by impotence. A survey was conducted by the Male Aging Study (MMAS) among men ages 40 to 70 years, with a purpose to determine the prevalence of male impotence. Astoundingly 52% of the participants revealed some erectile dysfunctions of various magnitude and extent. In 2007, approximately 10.4% of men, ages 18 to 59 were unable to attain or sustain an erection, as revealed by the National Health and Social Life Survey. Both surveys showed a close association between aging and impotence, which support the idea that this condition is indeed physical in origin, and not purely psychological.

According to MMAS, 17% of men whose ages range from 40 to 70 years have mild cases of erectile dysfunction. Around 25% of men in this age group report moderate manifestations of male impotence. A cause for concern is the tripling percentage of cases with complete erectile dysfunction. A complete erectile dysfunction is described as the total inability to initiate or sustain erections during sexual stimulations with the absence of nocturnal erections.

It was once thought that impotence exclusively occurs in males, but researchers revealed that women, too can suffer from impotence. What’s more, female impotence is not as rare as we used to think. According to the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, 40% of women have cases of female sexual dysfunction or FSD. Undeniably, the prevalence of impotence is eminent and spans both genders and off all different age groups.

According to Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, sexual satisfaction is a physiological need – a fundamental and basic need for a human being to survive. Without a satisfying sexual relationship and expression, you cannot fully attain your other needs as a person. These include security, love and self – esteem. This might probably explain why people with impotence are often insecure with poor insight of their worth as a person. Without a doubt, the interference of the normal sexual activities has a great impact on the quality of your quality of life. Impotence may not sound as grave as the other medical conditions we know, but it can greatly incapacitate one’s psychological and emotional state. Sexual dysfunctions may not be as severe as the other diseases but it is a condition that needs medical help and intervention.