Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get and maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse. ED is also known as impotence.
ED can have a range of causes that can be both physical and psychological (mental). Physical causes include:
- narrowing of the blood vessels going to the penis - commonly associated with high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol or diabetes (a condition caused by too much glucose in the blood)
- hormonal problems
Psychological causes of ED include:
How common is erectile dysfunction?
ED is a very common condition, particularly in older men. It is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 to 70 will have some degree of ED.
Outlook
ED can have a significant impact on both your quality of life and your partner’s. However, in many cases, ED can be treated. Although you may be embarrassed, it is important that a healthcare professional diagnoses ED so that the cause can be identified.
ED is often an early sign that your blood vessels are narrowing. This can happen because they are clogged with fatty substances, such as cholesterol. As the blood vessels in your penis are a lot smaller than the blood vessels elsewhere in your body, they are often affected first.
Having narrowed blood vessels is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (conditions that affect the heart and blood flow). Examples include:
- coronary heart disease - where the main arteries that supply your heart (the coronary arteries) become clogged
- stroke - a very serious condition where the blood supply to your brain is interrupted
- heart attack - a very serious condition where the blood supply to your heart is blocked
If you have ED, your GP will assess your risk of cardiovascular disease and may suggest lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, to try to reduce your risk. Making these changes is an important part of treatment for ED and may help to relieve your symptoms as well as improving your general health.
There are several other treatment options that have proved very successful for ED. Medication can be used to successfully manage it in at least two-thirds of men. Vacuum pumps that encourage blood to flow to the penis and cause an erection are also successful in 90% of cases.
See Erectile dysfunction - Treatment for more information.
