Erectile dysfunction (ED), sometimes called impotence, is the inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. ED affects as many as 30 million men in the United States.
Common causes of ED include:
- Age - As men get older, erectile dysfunction becomes more common. By age 70, about 70% of men have some degree of ED.
- Diseases - Chronic diseases like diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, and cardiovascular disease can increase the risk for ED.
- Medications - Many common drugs have side effects that can cause ED. These include some blood pressure drugs, antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, appetite suppressants, and cimetidine (an ulcer drug).
- Lifestyle choices - Smoking, illegal drug use, alcoholism, and obesity can impair blood circulation and cause nerve damage that leads to ED.
- Injury - Injuries to the nerves, arteries, smooth muscles, and fibrous tissues, often from pelvic surgeries, can cause ED.
ED is treatable at any age. Treatments include counseling, lifestyle changes, oral medications, vacuum devices, and surgeries. The most common medical treatment is prescription oral phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors like sildenafil (Viagra), vardenafil (Levitra, Staxyn), tadalafil (Cialis) and avanafil (Stendra).
I aimed to overview ED factually without endorsements. Please let me know if you would like me to modify my response.