Erectile Dysfunction: What It Is, Why It Happens and Who Is At Risk

While erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, is one of the most common male sexual dysfunctions, not being alone in that experience doesn’t make it feel any less distressing. For many men, being unable to maintain an erection can take an emotional toll, negatively impacting their mental health and personal relationships. 

What is Erectile Dysfunction?

To put it simply, during sexual arousal, blood flows into the erectile tissue of the penis, causing it to go from flaccid to firm or hard enough to partake in penetrative sex. 

Erectile dysfunction is the consistent inability to develop or maintain an erection firm enough for penetrative sex, despite sexual arousal. The occasional failure to get or keep their penis hard is not atypical. 

Erectile dysfunction is when this happens regularly (e.g. several times over months).

Why It Happens

Many things can affect one’s ability to maintain an erection. As such, it is not always easy to pinpoint the reason someone is experiencing ED.“The causes of erectile dysfunction are very subjective,” says consultant urologist Dr Elon Thompson.“It can be very complex.” 

Factors like sleep quality, stress levels, injuries, weight, alcohol, certain medications and certain illnesses, like hypertension, diabetes and Enlarged Prostate, have all been known to impact erectile dysfunction. 

Who Is At Risk

As said before, erectile dysfunction is very common but difficult to predict. “It can happen at any age, really,” Dr Thompson said, “but nobody can really look for it to happen. It just does.”

However, men over 50 are the most at risk of developing erectile dysfunction. “Many think it’s a normal sign of ageing. This is not necessarily the case.” 

Erectile Dysfunction as a Symptom

Erectile dysfunction is not typically a symptom of anything life-threatening, at least for older men. As such, whether it’s a problem largely depends on the patient’s (or their partner’s) needs. “If it’s impacting your life, you should speak to your doctor to try and find the underlying cause,” says Dr Thompson. “But it’s not usually a symptom of something serious.”

He notes, however, that for men under 40, erectile dysfunction is something they should always get checked out. “It could be a signal of a cardiac issue, especially when it occurs in the young.” Younger men who experience ED with no apparent cause, like stress or trauma, and have no symptoms of heart problems, should get screened for heart disease.    

Is it treatable?  

“Yes,” says Dr Thompson. “Most cases are treatable, though treatment options vary from patient to patient.” Some treatments are well known, like oral medications (e.g. Viagra) and penis pumps. Others include testosterone replacements if your erectile dysfunction is caused by low hormone levels and urethral suppositories to increase blood flow to the penis. While many cases of erectile dysfunction are successfully treated with medication, if that fails, your doctor may consider a penile implant. It’s important to note that many cases of erectile dysfunction are symptoms of other issues and so may be resolved by treating those conditions. 

If you’re having an issue with maintaining an erection, treatment options are available. Don’t be afraid to make an appointment with your doctor, or our own, to get the help you need.