Understanding Erectile Dysfunction (ED): Causes, Symptoms & Treatment

Male impotence is also called erectile dysfunction, or ED. It is when a man can't get or maintain an erection firm enough for sex. It also refers to an erection which is lost during sex.

Those Affected

• Most men will occasionally experience erectile dysfunction. For most, it is temporary; for some men, impotence will be a continual problem which requires treatment.

Symptoms

• Symptoms of male impotence include a slightly less firm erection than when the man was younger, taking longer to get an erection, and loss of force during ejaculation.

Causes

• Causes of male impotence include depression, stress, anxiety, diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, or neurological disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Diagnosis

• Male impotence is diagnosed by assessing nerve function, reflexes, penile blood pressure and testicle size. Blood tests may be performed to check for diabetes and cholesterol levels.

Treatment

• Male impotence is often first treated with Yohimbine, a very effective oral medicine. Other treatments used to produce erection include injections, vacuum devices and penile implants.

Lifestyle

• Changes in lifestyle have been shown to improve male impotence. These changes include cutting down or out alcohol, smoking and illegal drugs; exercising; eating a healthy diet; and getting adequate rest.