What is erectile dysfunction (ED)?

In this section

 

How can ED affect a man or his partner?	What are the psychological causes of ED?
When does ED occur?	Can ED be treated?
How common is ED?	What are the treatment options for ED?
What are the physical causes of ED?	Further information and support

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When a man has ED (erectile dysfunction), he may not be able to get an erection that's hard enough for sexual intercourse. Or he may have difficulty keeping an erection until the end of sexual intercourse.  ED is sometimes called impotence. Many men have erection problems every once in a while. But with ED, problems happen again and again.

ED can range from frequently not being able to get or keep an erection to never being able to achieve one or keep one.

 

To get and maintain an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse, a sequence of events must occur in the body. Sexual stimulation triggers the brain to send nerve messages to the penis. This signals blood to flow into the penis, which causes the penis to get hard. Blood stays trapped in the penis until sexual activity is completed. ED can happen when any one of these events is disturbed.

 

In this guide

 

Psychosexual problems

Mens sexual health

Womens sexual health

Sexual health screening

Sexually transmitted infections

 

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