Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: I've been married for almost 6 years, and I've known my wife for about 9 years. Since last year, sometimes my penis cannot get erect. At that time, I was under some psychological pressure and was afraid my wife would find out, so I secretly stayed in a different place for more than a month. After coming back home, it improved. Recently, I've noticed the same situation again.It just won't get erect, and sometimes when it does, it gets small very quickly, or it quickly flows out. But lately, I feel like no matter what I do, it won't get erect. I've secretly tried watching pornographic videos, but the erection doesn't last long—either it's too short or it quickly goes away.
Doctor's answer:
Impotence refers to young and middle-aged individuals who, due to causes such as deficiency, fright, and damp-heat, experience the loss of nourishment in the zongjīn (major sinews), leading to relaxation and weakness of the penis. This results in the inability to achieve an erection during intercourse, or an erection that is firm but not lasting. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, lower back and knee weakness, dizziness, tinnitus, cold contraction of the scrotum and penis, reduced semen volume or low sperm motility, a sense of fullness and pain in the perineum, difficulty urinating, or clear, frequent urination.Treatment based on syndrome differentiation:
- Decline of mingmen fire: Warm and tonify the kidney yang, nourish the kidneys, and replenish essence.
- Damage to the heart and spleen: Tonify the heart and spleen.
- Fear injuring the kidneys: Nourish the kidneys and calm the mind.
- Liver qi stagnation: Soothe the liver and resolve stagnation.
- Damp-heat descending: Clear and resolve damp-heat.
However, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. You should consult a local traditional Chinese medicine hospital and combine the four diagnostic methods (inspection, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, and palpation) to identify the specific symptoms and prescribe the appropriate treatment. Only then can the medicine effectively address the condition. Wishing you a speedy recovery.