Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, is the inability of a man to maintain a firm erection long enough to have sex. Although this condition is more common in older men, it can occur at any age. Contrary to what you may have read, its causes are more often physical than psychological. This condition affects approximately 18 million American men.

A variety of different diseases may cause erectile dysfunction. The most common is vascular disease, which refers to the blood vessels. This includes atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), hypertension, and high cholesterol. These diseases account for 70 percent of physically related causes of erectile dysfunction, since they restrict blood low to the penis. Diabetes, kidney disease, and neurological disease (such as multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease) are also common causes. Others include prostate enlargement, prostate cancer treatments (radiation, surgery), spinal cord injuries, hormonal imbalances, and drug use.