The occasional temporary erectile failure due to tiredness, stress or excessive alcohol consumption is not the same thing. Erectile dysfunction is a long-term, recurrent medical problem needing proper diagnosis and treatment.
Impotence is a consistent inability to sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. Medical professionals use the term "erectile dysfunction" or ED to describe this disorder. The American Foundation for Urologic Disease (AFUD) says use of the term ED differentiates this problem from other issues that interfere with sexual intercourse, such as lack of sexual desire and problems with ejaculation and orgasm.
[] Causes
Basically, any disorder that impairs blood flow in the penis has the potential to cause ED. This includes:
- disease
- injury
- surgical side effects
- drug side effects
- psychological issues
Of these, disease is the most common cause. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) says diseases - including diabetes, kidney disease, chronic alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, atherosclerosis, and vascular disease - account for about 70% of cases of ED. Between 35% and 50% of men with diabetes experience ED.
Surgery, for example prostate surgery, can also cause problems for the nerves and arteries near the penis, causing ED. In addition, injury to the penis, spinal cord, prostate, bladder, and pelvis can lead to ED.
Many medications can also result in ED as a side effect. NKUDIC says these include different types of drugs that can be used to treat high blood pressure, allergies, depression, ulcers, and anxiety. In addition, there are psychological factors that themselves contribute to roughly 10% of ED cases, according to NKUDIC. Smoking is also linked to erectile problems.
