Is it not as hard as before, is it impotence?

Patient's question:

Single, unmarried
Detailed medical condition and purpose of consultation:
I have been experiencing issues with the frequency and quality of my erections since last year. Recently, it's been difficult to feel an erection, or if I do, it's not as hard as it used to be. Is this what they call impotence? I've rarely felt an erection lately, only during nighttime when I wake up, but it disappears immediately afterward, within seconds! Additionally, I have not engaged in sexual activity!!
Duration and persistence of the current illness: 2
Current general condition: Rarely experience erections, and when they do, they are not firm and pass quickly, at most

Doctor's answer:

Hello: Impotence refers to young and middle-aged individuals who, due to reasons such as deficiency, fright, and damp-heat, cause the loss of nourishment and relaxation of the zongjin (penile tissues), leading to weak and unaroused penis, limp erection during intercourse, or firm but unsustainable erection. It is often accompanied by symptoms such as fatigue, lower back and knee weakness, dizziness and 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.
- Heart and spleen damaged: Tonify the heart and spleen.
- Fear damaging the kidneys: Tonify the kidneys and calm the spirit.
- 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 match the treatment accordingly for effective results. Of course, many diseases can cause impotence, with prostatitis being the most common. You can undergo a prostatic fluid examination for confirmation. Wishing you a speedy recovery.