Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile DysfunctionErectile dysfunction is a common, treatable medical problem that affects millions of men in the United States. What Is Erectile Dysfunction?Erectile dysfunction (ED), also referred to as "impotence," is a problem getting or keeping an erection hard enough for satisfactory sexual performance.Erectile dysfunction is present in 1 of 2 men older than 40 years.Other types of male sexual dysfunction can include problems with libido (sexual interest), orgasm, or ejaculation. Causes of Erectile DysfunctionErectile dysfunction has many possible causes and can be the first symptom of an undiagnosed condition.Erections are caused by the balance of blood flow into and out of the penis.Conditions that result in changes in the penis' blood flow are common causes of ED.The 2 most common medical problems that may cause ED are atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) and diabetes.Obesity is also associated with both blood vessel changes and hormone changes that negatively affect erections.Another cause of ED is damage to the nerves involved in getting erections.This can happen with diseases of the nervous system (eg, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson disease) or with surgery (eg, for prostate cancer).Hormone problems, like low testosterone, and side effects of medications, like those used to treat high blood pressure, can also cause ED.The mind and body work together when an erection occurs, so emotional or psychological factors can also cause difficulty getting or keeping an erection.