Erection problems
What are erection problems?
Most men have trouble getting an erection at some time in their life. But some men can't get an erection at all. And some men have trouble keeping an erection long enough to have sex that is satisfying. But there are treatments that can help. If you have erection problems, talk to your doctor about finding the right treatment for you.
Doctors call this condition erectile dysfunction. The word dysfunction means that something doesn't work properly. This problem used to be called impotence. But erectile
dysfunction is a more accurate name.
If you have erection problems, ask your doctor about treatments that could help you.
If you have erection problems, you may feel embarrassed or ashamed. These feelings stop many men from seeing their doctor.
But more than half the men in the United States between the ages of 40 and 70 have some problems having erections.
1
Source:
Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, et al.
Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study.
Journal of Urology. 1994; 151: 54-61.
Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, et al.
Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study.
Journal of Urology. 1994; 151: 54-61.
Thanks to recent advances in medicine, most men can find a treatment that works.
Try our quiz to see how much you know about erection problems.
- If you have erection problems, you have trouble getting an erection or keeping an erection long enough to have sex that is satisfying.
- As you get older, you're more likely to get erection problems.
- About 8 in 10 erection problems happen because of a physical problem such as
diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).diabetes orheart disease
You get heart disease when your heart isn't able to pump blood as well as it should. This can happen for a variety of reasons.heart disease. Many drugs can also cause erection problems as a side effect. - You should see your doctor. Erection problems can be an early sign of heart disease, diabetes or
depression
Depression is a mental illness in which your mood is low and you feel sad much of the time. It can range from a mild illness through to a severe one in which you lose interest in life and may be suicidal.depression. - Most men with an erection problem feel embarrassed, which can make the problem worse. And these problems can be difficult to talk about.
- Viagra (sildenafil) works well, but not for everyone. There are also some other good treatments.
- If you're married or have a partner, it can be a good idea to involve them if you talk to your doctor about your erection problems.
Source:
Martini FH, Ober WC, Garrison CW, et al.
Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology.
5th edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, U.S.A.; 2001.
Martini FH, Ober WC, Garrison CW, et al.
Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology.
5th edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, U.S.A.; 2001.
Your penis has spongy columns that fill with blood when you get an erection.
The tube that carries urine and
semen runs through the middle. It's called the urethra.
semen
Semen is the whitish fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen is made up of millions of tiny sperm floating in fluid. Sperm are the part of the semen that can join with a woman's eggs to make her pregnant. Sperm are made in the testicles, and travel through tubes (called the vas deferens) to get to the penis. Along the way, the sperm are joined by fluid that is released from the prostate and seminal vesicles. This fluid helps the sperm to travel and provides them with nutrients.
Semen is the whitish fluid that is released through the penis during orgasm. Semen is made up of millions of tiny sperm floating in fluid. Sperm are the part of the semen that can join with a woman's eggs to make her pregnant. Sperm are made in the testicles, and travel through tubes (called the vas deferens) to get to the penis. Along the way, the sperm are joined by fluid that is released from the prostate and seminal vesicles. This fluid helps the sperm to travel and provides them with nutrients.
The tip of your penis is called the glans. The rest of your penis is called the shaft.
Two columns of spongy tissue run through the upper part of your penis. When you have an erection, the spongy columns fill
up with blood and get stiff.
This picture shows a cross section of a penis.
When your penis is limp, these spaces are empty. When you have an erection, the spaces are full of blood. This makes the columns
firm.
Blood vessels called
arteries supply the extra blood that you need to get an erection.
arteries
Arteries are the blood vessels that take blood that is rich in oxygen and food away from your heart. The arteries carry this blood to all the tissues in your body.
Arteries are the blood vessels that take blood that is rich in oxygen and food away from your heart. The arteries carry this blood to all the tissues in your body.
There are also nerves in your penis. They send messages around your penis to help erections happen.
Other nerves bring messages from your brain about what you're thinking and feeling about sex.
Erections happen when nerves in your penis release certain chemicals that change the way blood flows into your penis.
See More about how erections happen to learn more.
You may have problems getting an erection or keeping an erection long enough to enjoy sex. There are several possible causes.
Stress or unhappiness can cause erection problems. Your emotions can stop you from having an erection or make it disappear
too soon.
3 This can make you lose interest in sex, or you may avoid having sex.
Source:
Jordan GH.
Erectile function and dysfunction.
Postgraduate Medicine. 1999; 105: 131-134, 137-138, 143-144 passim.
Jordan GH.
Erectile function and dysfunction.
Postgraduate Medicine. 1999; 105: 131-134, 137-138, 143-144 passim.
If you have erection problems, you may feel anxious or guilty. And if you're worried about whether you'll get an erection,
this worry can make it more difficult to get one.
4 But in more than 8 in 10 men who have had erection problems for more than a year, there is a physical cause.
4
Source:
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
Source:
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
If you think your erection problems may be caused by stress or unhappiness, it can help to talk to a
psychosexual therapist or
counselor.
psychotherapist
A psychotherapist is a health professional who treats mental disorders by talking with their patients, rather than by prescribing medicines. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.
A psychotherapist is a health professional who treats mental disorders by talking with their patients, rather than by prescribing medicines. There are many types of psychotherapy, including cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.
counselor
A counselor is a professional who is trained to help people, usually with the emotional part of their illness. Counselors talk to people about their illness. They also suggest ways that people can make changes for the better.
A counselor is a professional who is trained to help people, usually with the emotional part of their illness. Counselors talk to people about their illness. They also suggest ways that people can make changes for the better.
You may get erection problems if your nerves can't tell your penis to make erections happen. This may happen if you have:
-
diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).Diabetes (an illness that can damage the nerves in your penis and in other parts of your body) -
multiple sclerosis
Multiple sclerosis, or MS for short, is a disease that involves damage to the walls of nerves. No one knows for sure what causes it. If you have multiple sclerosis, you may lose feeling in certain parts of your body. You may also have trouble with your vision or controlling your movements.Multiple sclerosis, or another neurological disease that stops your nerves from working well - An injury to your groin area
- Surgery in your groin area, which can damage the nerves in your penis
-
radiation therapy
This treatment uses high-energy X-rays to kill cancer cells. It's most often used for tumors that are hard to treat with surgery alone. You won't feel any pain during this treatment, but you may get some side effects afterward.Radiation therapy to your pelvis to treat prostate cancer.
atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is also called "hardening of the arteries." It happens when fatty material attaches to the inner wall of the arteries. Over time, cholesterol, fats and other blood components stick to the same area and the artery wall becomes thick and narrow, making it progressively more difficult for blood to flow through the affected vessels.
Atherosclerosis is also called "hardening of the arteries." It happens when fatty material attaches to the inner wall of the arteries. Over time, cholesterol, fats and other blood components stick to the same area and the artery wall becomes thick and narrow, making it progressively more difficult for blood to flow through the affected vessels.
And if blood isn't kept in your penis but starts leaking out through your veins, then your erection may not be firm or last
long. This may happen naturally as you get older. It can also happen if you have an illness called
diabetes.
diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).
A condition called Peyronie's disease changes the way blood flows through your penis.
4 See Peyronie's disease.
Source:
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
If you don't have enough of a
hormone called
testosterone, you may have erection problems. Testosterone is the hormone that gives you your sex drive (libido).
hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.
testosterone
Testosterone is a sex hormone. When boys go through puberty, testosterone causes the development of male characteristics like a deep voice and a muscular body. Testosterone is also known to affect men's sex drive and mood. Although testosterone is thought of as a 'male hormone', women also make testosterone (although they make much less of it then men).
Testosterone is a sex hormone. When boys go through puberty, testosterone causes the development of male characteristics like a deep voice and a muscular body. Testosterone is also known to affect men's sex drive and mood. Although testosterone is thought of as a 'male hormone', women also make testosterone (although they make much less of it then men).
Having too much of a hormone called
prolactin can also give you erection problems.
prolactin
Prolactin is a hormone that your body makes. Its main job is to prepare a woman's breasts for breastfeeding after she's had a baby. If men have too much prolactin in their blood, it can lower their sex drive and make it difficult for them to father a child.
Prolactin is a hormone that your body makes. Its main job is to prepare a woman's breasts for breastfeeding after she's had a baby. If men have too much prolactin in their blood, it can lower their sex drive and make it difficult for them to father a child.
If you have one of these problems, you may need to see a doctor who specializes in hormones.
There may be some things about you or your health that make it more likely that you'll have problems getting erections.
For example, if you're taking drugs to treat another medical condition, the drugs may cause erection problems.
To read more, see Risk factors for erection problems.
Most men who have an erection problem don't talk to their doctor about it.
5 But there are at least two good reasons for doing so.
Source:
Ansong KS, Lewis C, Jenkins P, et al.
Help-seeking decisions among men with impotence.
Urology. 1998; 52: 834-837.
Ansong KS, Lewis C, Jenkins P, et al.
Help-seeking decisions among men with impotence.
Urology. 1998; 52: 834-837.
-
You don't need to suffer. There are treatments that can help you have satisfying sex again. These treatments will help you feel better about yourself
and your relationship. If you're feeling depressed, you're more likely to have erection problems. Sorting out these problems
can make you feel less depressed.
Source:
Seidman SN, Roose SP, Menza MA, et al.
Treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with depressive symptoms: results of a placebo-controlled trial with sildenafil citrate.
American Journal of Psychiatry. 2001; 158: 1623-1630.
6 -
Erection problems can be an early warning sign. They could mean you have a serious medical condition, like
diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).diabetes orheart disease
You get heart disease when your heart isn't able to pump blood as well as it should. This can happen for a variety of reasons.heart disease.Source:
Lewis RW.
Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction.
Urologic Clinics of North America. 2001; 28: 209-216.
7 The same thing that goes wrong in your body to give you these illnesses can also cause erection problems. Your doctor can check whether you have these diseases.
Sources for the information on this page:
- Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, et al.Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study.Journal of Urology. 1994; 151: 54-61.
- Martini FH, Ober WC, Garrison CW, et al.Fundamentals of anatomy and physiology.5th edition. Prentice Hall, New Jersey, U.S.A.; 2001.
- Jordan GH.Erectile function and dysfunction.Postgraduate Medicine. 1999; 105: 131-134, 137-138, 143-144 passim.
- Morgentaler A.Male impotence.Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
- Ansong KS, Lewis C, Jenkins P, et al.Help-seeking decisions among men with impotence.Urology. 1998; 52: 834-837.
- Seidman SN, Roose SP, Menza MA, et al.Treatment of erectile dysfunction in men with depressive symptoms: results of a placebo-controlled trial with sildenafil citrate.American Journal of Psychiatry. 2001; 158: 1623-1630.
- Lewis RW.Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction.Urologic Clinics of North America. 2001; 28: 209-216.
This information was last updated on Oct 13, 2009
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2010. All rights reserved.
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