Sexual Health and Erectile Dysfunction

“Having erection trouble from time to time
isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction
is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress…”.1

Umbrella

What may the Sexual Health and Erectile Dysfunction Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Erectile Dysfunction (ED)
  • Impotence
  • Male Impotence

Definition

What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?

DotS the definition of ED may vary. In Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s definition is:

“Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex”.2

Symptoms

What are symptoms of ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction: What Are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction the (Australian) HealthDirect note:

“Symptoms of erectile dysfunction include:

  • Difficulty getting an erection
  • Difficulty keeping an erection
  • Difficulty engaging in sexual intercourse, due to your penis not being hard enough”.3

Common or Not

How common is ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction: Overview – How Common Is Erectile Dysfunction? according to the (United States) Cleveland Clinic:

“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”.4

In Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): About Erectile Dysfunction according to the (Scottish) NHS Inform:

“Erectile dysfunction is a very common condition, particularly in older men. It is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 will have it to some degree”.5

In Erectile Dysfunction: Key Facts according to the (Australian) HealthDirect:

  • “Erectile dysfunction is very common, affecting up to 2 in 3 males over age 45 years”.6

Concern or Not

Is ED a concern?

In Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Having erection trouble from time to time isn’t necessarily a cause for concern. If erectile dysfunction is an ongoing issue, however, it can cause stress, affect your self-confidence and contribute to relationship problems. Problems getting or keeping an erection can also be a sign of an underlying health condition that needs treatment and a risk factor for heart disease”.7

Cause

What causes ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Causes [+ Images] the Mayo Clinic elaborate on physical causes, psychological causes and risk factors and also note:

“Male sexual arousal is a complex process that involves the brain, hormones, emotions, nerves, muscles and blood vessels. Erectile dysfunction can result from a problem with any of these. Likewise, stress and mental health concerns can cause or worsen erectile dysfunction”.8

On page one in Hormones and Erectile Dysfunction: What You Need To Know – Causes the (United States) Endocrine Society explain:

“The most common causes of ED are underlying health problems that affect blood vessels and blood flow in the penis. These include hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), diabetes, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol”.9

Cause: Medicines and Drugs

Can some medicines and drugs cause ED?

In Drugs That May Cause Erection Problems, review date 01 January 2023, the (United States) MedlinePlus list “some medicines and drugs that may cause impotence in men”.

Treatment

How is ED treated?

In Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction the NHS elaborate on:

“Treatment can usually help improve erectile dysfunction.

  • Medicines for erectile dysfunction…
  • Vacuum pumps…
  • Treating the cause of erectile dysfunction…
  • Finding private counsellors or sex therapists…”.10

Oral Medicines

What are oral medicines for ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral Medications, dated 24 June 2023, the Mayo Clinic explain:

“Medicines that you take by mouth are called oral medicines. They’re often the first line of treatment for trouble getting or keeping an erection, called erectile dysfunction (ED). Oral medicines for ED usually work well and cause few side effects”.11

Sexual Health and Erectile DysfunctionMain Oral Medicines

What are the four main oral medicines for ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral Medications the Mayo Clinic elaborate on:

“The four main medicines taken by mouth for erectile dysfunction are:

  • Avanafil (Stendra)
  • Sildenafil (Viagra)
  • Tadalafil (Cialis)
  • Vardenafil.

These medicines are called PDE5 inhibitors. They enhance the effects of a chemical the body makes that relaxes muscles in the penis, called nitric oxide. This boosts blood flow and helps you get an erection from sexual activity”.12

Health Care Provider

What if I think I have ED or I think my partner has ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction: Diagnosis & Treatment — Treatment the Mayo Clinic explain:

“The first thing your doctor will do is to make sure you’re getting the right treatment for any health conditions that could be causing or worsening your erectile dysfunction.

Depending on the cause and severity of your erectile dysfunction and any underlying health conditions, you might have various treatment options. Your doctor can explain the risks and benefits of each treatment and will consider your preferences. Your partner’s preferences also might play a role in your treatment choices”.13

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Sexual Health and Erectile Dysfunction?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Sexual Health and Erectile Dysfunction?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

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New or Updated

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  5. Dietary Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction: A Natural Treatment for ED?
  6. Drugs That May Cause Erection Problems
  7. Erectile Dysfunction
  8. Erectile Dysfunction
  9. Erectile Dysfunction
  10. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)
  11. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)
  12. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): About
  13. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Causes
  14. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Diagnosing
  15. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Symptoms
  16. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Treating
  17. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Treatments for Erectile Dysfunction
  18. Erectile Dysfunction FAQs [Video: Courtesy Mayo Clinic]
  19. Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes: Take Control Today
  20. Erectile Dysfunction: A Sign of Heart Disease?
  21. Erectile Dysfunction: Diagnosis & Treatment
  22. Erectile Dysfunction: Nonoral Treatments
  23. Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes [+ Video]
  24. Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral Medications
  25. Hormones and Erectile Dysfunction: What You Need To Know
  26. Hypogonadism In Men
  27. Is Loss of Sex Drive Normal As A Man Gets Older?
  28. Issm.info: Sexual Health Topics [International Society for Sexual Medicine]
  29. Let’s Talk Low Libido
  30. Male Hypogonadism
  31. Management of Erectile Dysfunction and CV Disease
  32. Mayo Clinic Minute: Don’t Get Tricked Into Bogus Erectile Dysfunction Treatments [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  33. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Low Testosterone Can Affect Men’s Health [+ Video]
  34. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Some Products That Claim To Treat Erectile Dysfunction Can Be Harmful
  35. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Men’s Health – Treating Erectile Dysfunction
  36. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Herbs At A Glance
  37. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  38. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Natural Doesn’t Necessarily Mean Safer, or Better
  39. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Yohimbe
  40. Penile Implants
  41. Penis Disorders
  42. Penis Pump
  43. Peyronies Disease
  44. Seduction Secrets: Do Aphrodisiacs Boost Desire?
  45. Senior Sex: Tips for Older Men
  46. Shockwave Therapy for Erectile Dysfunction: Does It Work?
  47. Sildenafil (Including Viagra)
  48. Sildenafil [Viagra]
  49. The Dangers of Recreational Viagra
  50. What Are the Risks of Testosterone Therapy?

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776 Accessed: 18 January 2025
  2. Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776 Accessed: 18 January 2025
  3. Erectile Dysfunction: What Are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: March 2023. HealthDirect https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/erectile-dysfunction Accessed: 18 January 2025
  4. Erectile Dysfunction: Overview – How Common Is Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: 28 August 2023. Cleveland Clinic https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/10035-erectile-dysfunction Accessed: 18 January 2025
  5. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): About Erectile Dysfunction. Last Updated: 19 November 2024. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/sexual-and-reproductive/erectile-dysfunction-impotence/ Accessed: 18 January 2025
  6. Erectile Dysfunction: What Are the Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: March 2023. HealthDirect https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/erectile-dysfunction Accessed: 18 January 2025
  7. Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776 Accessed: 18 January 2025
  8. Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776 Accessed: 18 January 2025
  9. Hormones and Erectile Dysfunction: What You Need To Know – Causes. 17 February 2022. Endocrine Society https://www.endocrine.org/-/media/endocrine/files/patient-engagement/hormones-and-series/hormones_and_erectile_dysfunction_what_you_need_to_know.pdf Accessed: 18 January 2025
  10. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction. Page Last Reviewed: 28 July 2023. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/#treatment Accessed: 18 January 2025
  11. Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral Medications. 24 June 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/in-depth/erectile-dysfunction/art-20047821 Accessed: 18 January 2025
  12. Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral Medications. 24 June 2023. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/in-depth/erectile-dysfunction/art-20047821 Accessed: 18 January 2025
  13. Erectile Dysfunction: Diagnosis & Treatment — Treatment. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355782 Accessed: 18 January 2025
Topic Last Updated: 18 January 2025 – Topic Last Reviewed: 18 January 2025

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