What I need to know about Erection Problems
On this page:
- What are erection problems?
- What causes an erection?
- What causes erectile dysfunction?
- What will happen in the doctor's office?
- How is erectile dysfunction treated?
- Points to Remember
- Hope through Research
- Pronunciation Guide
- For More Information
- Acknowledgments
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What are erection problems?
Erection * problems can be a difficult topic to discuss, but if you have problems getting or keeping an erection, you have good reasons to talk with a doctor: Erection problems not only interfere with your sex life, they can be a sign of other health problems.
Erection problems can be a sign of blocked blood vessels or nerve damage from diabetes. If you don’t see your doctor, these problems will go untreated and can harm your body.
ED is a medical problem. Your doctor can help.
Erection problems used to be called impotence. Now the term erectile dysfunction is more common. Sometimes people just use the initials ED.
Your doctor can offer several ED treatments. For many men, the answer is as simple as taking a pill. Other men have to try two or three options before they find a treatment that works for them. Don't give up if the first treatment doesn't work. Finding the right treatment can take time.
*See Pronunciation Guide for tips on how to say the words in bold type.
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What causes an erection?
Hormones, blood vessels, nerves, and muscles must all work together to cause an erection. Your brain starts an erection by sending nerve signals to the penis when it senses sexual stimulation. Touch may cause this arousal. Other triggers may be things you see or hear, or sexual thoughts or dreams.
Your brain starts an erection by sending nerve signals to the penis.
The nerve signals cause the muscles in the penis to relax and let blood flow into the spongy tissue in the penis. Blood collects in this tissue like water filling a sponge. The penis becomes larger and firmer, like an inflated balloon. The veins then get shut off to keep blood from flowing out.
After climax or after the sexual arousal has passed, the veins open back up and blood flows back into the body.
Healthy blood vessels are needed for an erection.
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What causes erectile dysfunction?
Many different conditions can lead to ED. Many of the causes are health problems that affect the heart and blood vessels and need to be treated to help prevent more serious problems.
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- diabetes
Unhealthy lifestyle habits can also contribute to ED. Anything that's bad for your heart is also bad for your sexual health.
- alcohol and drug abuse
- smoking
- overeating
- lack of exercise
Nerve damage from many causes can interfere with the signals that start an erection.
- spinal cord injury
- treatments for prostate cancer, including radiation and prostate removal
- multiple sclerosis and other nerve diseases
Some prescription drugs such as some antidepressants or high blood pressure medicines can cause ED. Your doctor may be able to change your drug treatment. Never stop taking a prescribed drug without talking with your doctor.
A small number of ED cases result from a reduced level of the male hormone testosterone.
Doctors used to believe that most cases of ED resulted from mental or emotional problems. We now know that most ED has a physical cause. But depression and worry or anxiety can still cause ED. And ED from physical causes can lead to depression and worry, making ED worse.
A person should not assume ED is part of the normal process of aging. Another cause most likely exists.
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What will happen in the doctor's office?
Talking about ED can be difficult. When you meet with your doctor, you might use a phrase like "I've been having problems in the bedroom" or "I've been having erection problems." Remember that a healthy sex life is part of a healthy life. Don't feel embarrassed about seeking help. ED is a medical problem, and your doctor treats medical problems every day.
If talking with your doctor doesn't put you at ease, ask for a referral to another doctor. Your doctor may send you to a urologist-a doctor who specializes in sexual and urologic problems.
Your partner may want to come with you to see the doctor. Many doctors say ED is easier to treat when both partners are involved.
To find the cause of your ED, your doctor will take a complete medical history and do a physical exam.
Medical History
Your doctor will ask general questions about your health, as well as specific questions about your erection problems and your relationship with your partner. Bring a list of all the medicines you take, or bring them with you to show to your doctor. Tell your doctor about any surgery you have had.
Your doctor will ask about habits like alcohol use, smoking, and exercise.
Your doctor might ask you questions like
- How do you rate your confidence that you can get and keep an erection?
- When you have erections with sexual stimulation, how often are your erections hard enough for penetration?
- During sexual intercourse, how often are you able to maintain your erection after penetration?
- When you attempt sexual intercourse, how often is it satisfactory for you?
- How would you rate your level of sexual desire?
- How often are you able to reach climax and ejaculate?
- Do you have an erection when you wake up in the morning?
The answers to these questions will help your doctor understand the problem.
Physical Exam
A physical exam can help your doctor find the cause of your ED. As part of the exam, the doctor will examine your testes and penis, take your blood pressure, and check your reflexes. A blood sample will be taken to test for diabetes, cholesterol level, and other conditions that may be associated with ED.
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How is erectile dysfunction treated?
Your doctor can offer a number of treatments for ED. You may want to talk with your partner about which treatment fits you best as a couple. Most people want the simplest treatment possible. You may need to try a number of treatments before you find the one that works best for you.
Lifestyle Changes
For some men, getting more exercise, quitting smoking, losing weight, and cutting back on alcohol may solve erection problems.
Counseling
Even though most cases of ED have a physical cause, counseling can help couples deal with the emotional effects. Some couples find that counseling adds to the medical treatment by making their relationship stronger.
Oral Medicines
Since 1998, doctors have been able to prescribe a pill to treat ED. Current brands include Viagra, Levitra, and Cialis. If your health is generally good, your doctor may prescribe one of these drugs. You should not take any of these pills to treat ED if you take any nitrates, a type of heart medicine. All ED pills work by increasing blood flow to the penis. They do not cause automatic erections. Talk with your doctor about when to take the pill. You may need to experiment to find out how soon the pill takes effect.
Even if taking a pill solves your erection problem, you should still take care of the other health issues that may have caused your ED.
Injections
Taking a pill doesn't work for everybody. Many men use medicines that go directly into the penis. Caverject and Edex are injected into the shaft of the penis with a needle. MUSE is a tiny pill inserted into the urethra at the tip of the penis. These medicines usually cause an erection within minutes. These medicines can be very successful, even if other treatments fail.
Vacuum Device
Another way to create an erection is to use a specially designed vacuum tube. The penis is inserted into the tube, which is connected to a pump. As air is pumped out of the tube, blood flows into the penis and makes it larger. A specially designed elastic ring is moved from the end of the tube to the base of the penis to keep the blood from flowing out.
When air is pumped out of the tube, blood flows into the penis and causes an erection.
Penile Implant
If the other options fail, some men need surgery to treat ED. A surgeon can implant a device that inflates or unbends to create an erection. Implanted devices do not interfere with the way sex feels.
Penile implant operations cannot be reversed. Once a man has a penile implant, he must use the device to have an erection. Talk with your doctor about the pros and cons of having a penile implant.
A pump implanted under the skin fills two rods with fluid to cause an erection.
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Points to Remember
- Erection problems may be a sign of health problems.
- A doctor can help you overcome erection problems.
- Smoking, being overweight, drinking too much alcohol, and avoiding exercise can contribute to erection problems.
- Most cases of erectile dysfunction (ED) have a physical cause, but counseling can help couples build a stronger relationship.
- Many men can take a pill to treat ED. These men should still treat the health conditions that caused ED.
- Taking a pill doesn't work for all men.
- Men who take medicines called nitrates should not take a pill to treat ED.
- Additional treatment options for ED include injections, urethral inserts, a vacuum device, and a surgical implant.
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Hope through Research
The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) sponsors programs aimed at understanding the causes of ED and finding treatments to reverse its effects. The NIDDK's Division of Kidney, Urologic, and Hematologic Diseases (KUH) supported the researchers whose work helped develop the first pill to treat ED. The KUH continues to support basic research into how erections happen and the diseases that can cause ED, including diabetes and high blood pressure.
Participants in clinical trials can play a more active role in their own health care, gain access to new research treatments before they are widely available, and help others by contributing to medical research. For information about current studies, visit www.ClinicalTrials.gov.
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Pronunciation Guide
ejaculate (ee-JAK-yoo-layt)
erectile dysfunction (ee-REK-tyl) (diss-FUHNK-shuhn)
erection (ee-REK-shuhn)
impotence (IM-puh-tenss)
penis (PEE-niss)
prostate (PROSS-tayt)
radiation (RAY-dee-AY-shuhn)
testosterone (tess-TOSS-tuh-rohn)
urethra (yoo-REE-thruh)
urologist (yoo-ROL-uh-jist)
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The U.S. Government does not endorse or favor any specific commercial product or company. Trade, proprietary, or company names appearing in this document are used only because they are considered necessary in the context of the information provided. If a product is not mentioned, the omission does not mean or imply that the product is unsatisfactory.
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For More Information
American Urological Association
1000 Corporate Boulevard
Linthicum, MD 21090
Phone: 1-866-RING-AUA (1-866-746-4282) or 410-689-3700
Fax: 410–689–3800
Email: aua@auanet.org
Internet: www.auanet.org 
American Diabetes Association
National Office
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 1-800-DIABETES (1-800-342-2383)
Fax: 703-549-6995
Email: AskADA@diabetes.org
Internet: www.diabetes.org
American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists
P.O. Box 1960
Ashland, VA 23005-1960
Phone: 804-752-0026
Fax: 804-752-0056
Email: aasect@aasect.org
Internet: www.aasect.org
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Acknowledgments
Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts. The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse would like to thank the following individuals for providing scientific and editorial review of the original version of this publication:
Tom Lue, M.D.
University of California at San FranciscoKevin McVary, M.D.
Northwestern UniversityHunter Wessells, M.D.
University of Washington
Thank you also to the following individuals who facilitated field-testing of this publication:
Kay Longhi, Research Coordinator
Harborview Medical Center, SeattleKevin McVary, M.D.
Northwestern UniversityHunter Wessells, M.D.
University of Washington
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This publication may contain information about medications. When prepared, this publication included the most current information available. For updates or for questions about any medications, contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration toll-free at 1-888-INFO-FDA (1-888-463-6332) or visit www.fda.gov. Consult your doctor for more information.
National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse
3 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892–3580
Phone: 1–800–891–5390
TTY: 1–866–569–1162
Fax: 703–738–4929
Email: nkudic@info.niddk.nih.gov
Internet: www.kidney.niddk.nih.gov
The National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NKUDIC) is a service of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). The NIDDK is part of the National Institutes of Health of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Established in 1987, the Clearinghouse provides information about diseases of the kidneys and urologic system to people with kidney and urologic disorders and to their families, health care professionals, and the public. The NKUDIC answers inquiries, develops and distributes publications, and works closely with professional and patient organizations and Government agencies to coordinate resources about kidney and urologic diseases.
Publications produced by the Clearinghouse are carefully reviewed by both NIDDK scientists and outside experts.
This publication is not copyrighted. The Clearinghouse encourages users of this publication to duplicate and distribute as many copies as desired.
NIH Publication No. 09-5483
June 2009
Page last updated: September 2, 2010
