Erection problems

Risk factors for erection problems

There may be some things about you that make you more likely to have problems getting erections.

Being older

Men of all ages can have erections. But problems are more likely as you get older. Between the ages of 40 and 70, your chances of not being able to have erections at all (without treatment) go from about 5 in 100 to 15 in 100.

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.

But getting older doesn't cause erection problems. It just means you're more likely to have another condition that also causes erection problems.

Having another illness

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, you're almost twice as likely to have erection problems as men who don't have diabetes.

Source:
Johannes CB, Araujo AB, Feldman HA, et al.
Incidence of erectile dysfunction in men 40 to 69 years old: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study.
Journal of Urology. 2000; 163: 460-463.

Having high levels of

cholesterol
Cholesterol is made by your liver or absorbed from food. It is used by your body to make bile acids (which help your intestines absorb nutrients) and steroid hormones (like testosterone or estrogen). Cholesterol is also an important part of cell membranes, which are the structures that surround cells. "Good cholesterol" is called HDL; "bad cholesterol" is LDL.

cholesterol, especially

LDL cholesterol
LDL cholesterol is often called "bad cholesterol." It is carried in the blood by molecules called low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). A high level of LDL cholesterol places you at risk for heart disease and atherosclerosis.

LDL cholesterol ("bad cholesterol"), can make you more likely to get erection problems.

Clogged arteries (doctors call this

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) can cause damage to many parts of your body, such as your heart and brain. If the arteries to your penis are also clogged, this can cause erection problems.

Taking drugs that can cause erection problems

If you take pills for

heart 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, you're about twice as likely to have erection problems.

Pills for

high blood pressure
Your blood pressure is considered to be high when it is above the accepted normal range. The usual limit for normal blood pressure is 140/90. If either the first (systolic) number is above 140 or the lower (diastolic) number is above 90, a person is considered to have high blood pressure. Doctors sometimes call high blood pressure "hypertension."

high blood pressure can also cause erection problems.

You can also get erection problems if you're taking drugs for other conditions.

Source:
Miller TA.
Diagnostic evaluation of erectile dysfunction.
American Family Physician. 2000; 61: 95-104, 109-110.

Drugs for depression. These are called antidepressants. Doctors sometimes prescribe them for other conditions, too.
Drugs for anxiety and similar conditions. The type of drugs that cause erection problems are called benzodiazepines.
Drugs for

schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental illness that causes delusions and hallucinations.

schizophrenia and similar conditions. These are called antipsychotics.
Drugs for

heartburn
Heartburn is a painful, burning sensation in your chest. It happens, often after meals, when the contents of your stomach pass back up into your esophagus. The esophagus is the tube that runs from the mouth to the stomach.

heartburn and

acid reflux
Acid reflux happens when acid from your stomach flows into the tube leading from your throat to your stomach (your esophagus) or up into your throat. Acid reflux can cause heartburn.

acid reflux. This is true for certain types of drugs called H2 blockers.
Drugs for

seizure
A seizure is a sudden spasm of muscles caused by too much electrical activity in the brain. It results in muscle twitching and other symptoms.

seizures. Two drugs in this group that can cause erection problems are called phenobarbital and phenytoin.
A drug used for

fungus
A fungus is an organism that is sometimes considered to be a type of plant. A fungus lives by feeding on other organisms. The mushrooms we eat in salads are fungi, but so are candida and cryptococcus, which can cause infections in people's bodies.

fungal infection. It's an

antibiotics
These medications are used to help your immune system fight infection. There are a number of different types of antibiotics that work in different ways to get rid of bacteria, parasites and other infectious agents. Antibiotics do not work against viruses.

antibiotic called ketoconazole.

Injuring your groin or your spine

If you've had an accident or an operation that damaged the nerves or arteries in your groin or your

spinal cord
Your spinal cord is a thick bundle of nerves that runs down your backbone (spine). These nerves carry messages between your brain and the rest of your body. The bones (vertebrae) in your neck and back protect your spinal cord. If your spinal cord gets damaged, you may lose feeling in your legs or arms.

spinal cord, you're more likely to have erection problems.

Smoking cigarettes

Experts disagree over whether smoking cigarettes makes you more likely to have erection problems.

Source:
Meuleman EJ.
Prevalence of erectile dysfunction: need for treatment?
International Journal of Impotence Research. 2002; 14: 22-28.

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But smoking does seem to make erection problems worse if you have heart disease, high blood pressure or

arthritis
Arthritis is when your joints become inflamed, making them stiff and painful. There are different kinds of arthritis. Osteoarthritis is the most common type. It happens when the cartilage at the end of your bones becomes damaged and then starts to grow abnormally. Rheumatoid arthritis happens because your immune system attacks the lining of your joints.

arthritis.

Source:
McVary KT, Carrier S, Wessells H, et al.
Smoking and erectile dysfunction: evidence based analysis.
Journal of Urology. 2001; 166: 1624-1632.

⁵

Smoking can also cause clogged arteries (atherosclerosis), which can lead to erection problems.

Drinking alcohol

Some studies show that regularly drinking lots of alcohol can make you more likely to get erection problems.

Source:
Bortolotti A, Parazzini F, Colli E, et al.
The epidemiology of erectile dysfunction and its risk factors.
International Journal of Andrology. 1997; 20: 323-334.

⁶

Using illegal drugs

Using marijuana, cocaine or other illegal drugs can make you more likely to get erection problems.

Source:
Bortolotti A, Parazzini F, Colli E, et al.
The epidemiology of erectile dysfunction and its risk factors.
International Journal of Andrology. 1997; 20: 323-334.

⁶

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.

Johannes CB, Araujo AB, Feldman HA, et al.Incidence of erectile dysfunction in men 40 to 69 years old: longitudinal results from the Massachusetts male aging study.Journal of Urology. 2000; 163: 460-463.

Miller TA.Diagnostic evaluation of erectile dysfunction.American Family Physician. 2000; 61: 95-104, 109-110.

Meuleman EJ.Prevalence of erectile dysfunction: need for treatment?International Journal of Impotence Research. 2002; 14: 22-28.

McVary KT, Carrier S, Wessells H, et al.Smoking and erectile dysfunction: evidence based analysis.Journal of Urology. 2001; 166: 1624-1632.

Bortolotti A, Parazzini F, Colli E, et al.The epidemiology of erectile dysfunction and its risk factors.International Journal of Andrology. 1997; 20: 323-334.

This information was last updated on Oct 13, 2009

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