Erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence) is an inability to achieve or sustain an erection that is adequate for sexual intercourse, an inability to ejaculate, or both. Most cases of erectile dysfunction are caused by a variety of physical or environmental factors, including the use of certain medications (e.g., anti-androgens, LH-RH agonists, antidepressants), chronic illness (e.g., diabetes is a major cause of erectile dysfunction; also hypertension), drinking too much alcohol, fatigue, poor lifestyle and nutrition choices (e.g., smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise), injuries or damage (e.g., following prostate or other surgery in the pelvic region), prostate conditions (e.g., BPH, prostatitis, prostate cancer), blunt trauma, exposure to BPA in the environment, and poor blood flow to the penis.
Up to 20 percent of the causes of erectile dysfunction or impotence are believed to be the result of stress, anxiety, or other psychological issues. These erectile dysfunction causes, however, are often a secondary reaction to an underlying physical cause of ED or impotence. For example, men who experience erectile dysfunction/impotence can become overly anxious about their inability to get an erection, which can then lead to performance anxiety, a rise in adrenaline levels (which hinders the ability to get an erection), and persistent erectile dysfunction.
According to the National Institutes of Health, approximately 5 percent of 40-year-old men and between 15 and 25 percent of men age 65 experience erectile dysfunction on a long-term basis. For a greater percentage of men, erectile dysfunction is an occasional occurrence, caused by perhaps a few too many drinks, emotional trauma, or physical exhaustion. Failure to achieve an erection less than 20 percent of the time is not unusual; when that percentage hits about 50 percent, however, that generally means you have a challenge to face.If you believe you may have erectile dysfunction but are not quite ready to see a professional about it, you can answer six brief questions on the International Index of Erectile Function to help you get a better understanding on your concerns and/or take the Nocturnal Erection Test. Then it may be time to see a doctor. For some men, the biggest hurdle to their getting help for impotence is asking for it. The prostate is a double-duty gland: it is involved in urination and sex, two topics that are not on the top of the list men want to talk about with their doctors. Although it’s true that erectile dysfunction is the topic of discussion in many TV and print commercials, many men are still reluctant or refuse to talk to their doctors about it.
See also
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
BPH and ED
Treatment for ED
Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction
Experimental Treatments for ED
Overview of ED Related Problems
Testosterone and ED
Getting Help for ED
ED Tools and Resources
