“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 (ED): Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – What Is Erectile Dysfunction? the (United States) National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases’ (NIDDK) definition is:

“Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition in which you are unable to get or keep an erection firm enough for satisfactory sexual intercourse. ED can be a short-term or long-term problem. You have ED when you

  • Can get an erection sometimes, but not every time you want to have sex
  • Can get an erection, but it does not last long enough for fulfilling or satisfactory sex
  • Are unable to get an erection at any time”.2

In Erectile Dysfunction: 2. Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction the (Scottish) NHS Inform note:

“The main symptom of erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get and maintain an erection for satisfactory intercourse.

ED should not be confused with ejaculation problems such as premature ejaculation, which is a condition where the process of arousal, orgasm and ejaculation occurs very rapidly”.3

Impotence

Is ED sometimes called impotence?

The NIDDK explain:

“ED is sometimes called impotence, but health care professionals use this term less often now so it won’t be confused with other, nonmedical meanings of the word”.4

Common or Not

How common is ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – How Common Is Erectile Dysfunction? according to 2012 statistics quoted by the NIDDK:

“ED is very common. It affects about 30 million men in the United States”.5

In Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence) according to the (United Kingdom) NHS:

“Erection dysfunction (impotence) is very common, particularly in men over 40”.6

Concern or Not

Is ED a concern?

In Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview the (United States) 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

Aging

Is there an association between ED and aging?

In Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – Who Is More Likely To Develop Erectile Dysfunction? the NIDDK elaborate on:

“You are more likely to develop ED if you

  • Are older
  • Have certain diseases or conditions
  • Take certain medicines
  • Have certain psychological or emotional issues
  • Have certain health-related factors or behaviors, such as overweight or smoking”.8

Cause

What causes ED?

In Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction – What Causes Erectile Dysfunction? the NIDDK elaborate on:

“Many different factors affecting your vascular system, nervous system, and endocrine system can cause or contribute to ED.

Although you are more likely to develop ED as you age, aging does not cause ED. ED can be treated at any age”.9

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”.10

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”.11

Cause: Medicines and Drugs

Can some medicines and drugs cause ED?

In Drugs That May Cause Erection Problems 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…”.12

In Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction: How Can I Treat Erectile Dysfunction? the NIDDK explain different options and in Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction: How Do Doctors Treat Erectile Dysfunction? the NIDDK elaborate on:

  • “Change your medicines…
  • Prescribe medicines you take by mouth…
  • Prescribe injectable medicines and suppositories…
  • Discuss alternative medicines…”.13

Sexual Health and Erectile DysfunctionViagra and Other Oral Medications

How do Viagra and other oral medications work to treat ED?

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

“Sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), tadalafil (Cialis) and avanafil (Stendra) are oral medications that reverse erectile dysfunction by enhancing the effects of nitric oxide, a natural chemical your body produces that relaxes muscles in the penis. This increases blood flow and allows you to get an erection in response to sexual stimulation”.14

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”.15

In Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction – How Can I Treat Erectile Dysfunction? the NIDDK elaborate on:

“You can work with a health care professional to treat an underlying cause of your erectile dysfunction (ED). Choosing an ED treatment is a personal decision. However, you also may benefit from talking with your partner about which treatment is best for you as a couple”.16

Health Topics A-Z

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In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Links

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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: 26 March 2023
  2. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – What Is Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/definition-facts Accessed: 26 March 2023
  3. Erectile Dysfunction: 2. Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction. Last Updated: 10 February 2023. NHS Inform https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/sexual-and-reproductive/erectile-dysfunction-impotence#symptoms-of-erectile-dysfunction Accessed: 26 March 2023
  4. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – Does Erectile Dysfunction Have Another Name? Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/definition-facts Accessed: 26 March 2023
  5. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – How Common Is Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/definition-facts Accessed: 26 March 2023
  6. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence). Page Last Reviewed: 26 August 2020. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/ Accessed: 26 March 2023
  7. Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Overview. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776 Accessed: 26 March 2023
  8. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Definition & Facts for Erectile Dysfunction – Who Is More likely To Develop Erectile Dysfunction? July 2017. National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/definition-facts Accessed: 26 March 2023
  9. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Symptoms & Causes of Erectile Dysfunction – What Causes Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes Accessed: 26 March 2023
  10. Erectile Dysfunction: Symptoms & Causes – Causes. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/symptoms-causes/syc-20355776 Accessed: 26 March 2023
  11. 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: 26 March 2023
  12. Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence): Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction. Page Last Reviewed: 26 August 2020. NHS https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/erection-problems-erectile-dysfunction/#treatment Accessed: 26 March 2023
  13. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction: How Do Doctors Treat Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/treatment Accessed: 26 March 2023
  14. Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral Medications. 20 December 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/in-depth/erectile-dysfunction/art-20047821 Accessed: 26 March 2023
  15. Erectile Dysfunction: Diagnosis & Treatment — Treatment. 29 March 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/erectile-dysfunction/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20355782 Accessed: 26 March 2023
  16. Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Treatment for Erectile Dysfunction – How Can I Treat Erectile Dysfunction? Last Reviewed: July 2017. National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction/treatment Accessed: 26 March 2023
Topic Last Updated: 26 March 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 26 March 2023

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