Erectile dysfunction is a condition suffered by millions of men all over the world which until the mid 1990’s went widely unreported but now erectile dysfunction is a condition that has been given a lot of publicity and men are more likely to report it and seek help.  The dysfunction is now recognised a medical problem for which there is treatment available.

Erectile dysfunction and occurs in men of all ages known as impotence which is an inability to obtain and maintain an erection in order to have sexual intercourse. Some men experience an erection but cannot maintain it for any significant time; some cannot get a penile response at all. No formal tests are used to diagnose erectile dysfunction; blood tests are generally done to exclude underlying disease, such as diabetes.

There are many physical causes attributable to erectile dysfunction such as, post-surgical side effects, which happens when a man in put on a new drug after surgery.  Accidental injuries to the penis or testicles often referred to as “blunt force trauma” can be a cause of erectile dysfunction. When a man is injured in the genital area, it can cause injury to any number of areas including the penis itself or the spine or pelvic area, this is why it is important for a man to be careful when playing sports. Similarly vascular trauma will also cause erectile dysfunction.

Diseases and conditions such as diabetes, flu, chronic renal failure, liver disease, arterial sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease can contribute to erectile dysfunction. It is known that most of these diseases have a direct effect on how the blood flows in the body.

Drug abuse whether recreational or regular chronic over use of addictive drugs such as cocaine, heroin, amphetamines can contribute to erectile dysfunction issues. All these affect the body in an adverse way and will often affect the penile function

Many psychological causes contribute to penile dysfunction and need to be determined early for treatment purposes. Some psychological issues often stem directly from other physical problems; however there are some basic psychological issues that can cause erectile dysfunction. Some of the more common psychological problems can be inhibited sexual desire, anxiety disorders, depression, and mental fatigue, stress, and relationship problems. There is no doubt that psychological problems can be hard to diagnosis because men are not forthcoming in this respect.