Erectile dysfunction (impotence)

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goodtoknow says: Impotence means that a man can't maintain an erection and is unable to have penetrative sex. But don't panic if this happens to you. It could be that you're just stressed, tired or have drunk too much alcohol. If it keeps happening, there could be a physical reason such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Around 8 in 10 cases have a physical cause and happen gradually. Psychological causes include relationship difficulties and depression. Don't be afraid to see your GP. Treatment, including medication such as Viagra, can be very successful.

For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of erectile dysfunction from patient.co.uk, read on.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) means that you cannot get a proper erection. There are various causes. However, most cases are due to narrowing of the arteries that take blood to the penis. This is due to a build up of atheroma in these arteries. This is similar to the way the heart arteries are affected in people with heart disease. As with heart disease, smoking and heavy alcohol drinking are important risk factors. Most cases of ED can be treated. The common treatment is to take a tablet before you plan to have sex. There are also various other treatment options. If you have ED, you may also be advised on lifestyle factors and treatments to minimise your risk of developing heart disease.

What is erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction (ED) means that you cannot get and/or maintain an erection. In some cases the penis becomes partly erect, but not hard enough to have sex properly. In some cases, there is no swelling or fullness of the penis at all. ED is sometimes called impotence.