Erectile Dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a type of penile disorder. It affects your ability to get and maintain an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse.

Your feelings play a major role in getting and maintaining an erection. Feeling relaxed, confident and aroused is essential. But it’s normal to sometimes have erection issues. Erection problems can occur if you feel nervous, anxious, frustrated or tired. Drinking alcohol and/or using substances can also have an effect. It can also result from other conditions or as a side effect of certain medications or cancer treatments.

If you’re having difficulty getting or maintaining an erection, it’s a good idea to schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider for further discussion.

In many cases, ED can be the first symptom of another underlying problem, including heart disease. It’s important to talk to a healthcare provider if you have problems getting and maintaining an erection.

Other names for erectile dysfunction include:

• Impotence.
• Impotency.

What are the types of erectile dysfunction?

Healthcare providers separate ED into several categories:

• Vascular erectile dysfunction. Vascular ED includes causes that affect the blood vessels that send blood to the tissues in your penis that allow you to get and maintain an erection, or the valves in the penis that normally hold blood inside. Vascular ED is the most common type of ED.
• Neurogenic erectile dysfunction. Neurogenic ED occurs as a result of nerve problems, which prevent signals from traveling from your brain to your penis to create an erection. This can happen because of trauma, pelvic surgery, radiation therapy or neurologic conditions like stroke, spinal stenosis and multiple sclerosis (MS).
• Hormonal erectile dysfunction. Hormonal ED refers to ED that happens as a result of testosterone deficiency, or in some cases as a result of thyroid issues.
• Psychogenic erectile dysfunction. Psychogenic ED involves psychological conditions (conditions that affect your thoughts, feelings or behavior) that can cause ED.

How common is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction is the most common sex-related condition that men and people assigned male at birth (AMAB) report to healthcare providers, especially as they age and develop other health issues.

What is the usual age for erectile dysfunction?

Providers and medical researchers estimate that erectile dysfunction affects over 50% of people who identify as male between the ages of 40 and 70. And those numbers may be higher — many don’t seek help for the condition due to embarrassment or shame.