Erectile Dysfunction Definition & Background

Erection problems (ED) refers to a man's inability to maintain a firm erection long enough to sustain sex. ED can occur at any age, although it is more common in older men. Most men have trouble maintaining an erection from time to time, which is not a cause for concern. However, the inability to maintain a lasting erection at least 50 percent of the time gives reason to seek medical attention.

Formerly called impotence, erectile dysfunction was once an off-limits subject. It was considered a natural consequence or psychological issue of growing older. Attitudes within the medical field, and also with the public, have changed in recent years. It is now generally accepted that erectile dysfunction is more often caused by physical problems than by psychological ones – in other words, younger men can have ED, and older men may show no sign of ED into their 80s.

Ongoing ED problems can cause stress and relationship problems and affect self-esteem. Men who think they may be suffering from ED can experience great benefits by consulting with a physician. It is also important to take erectile trouble seriously because it can be a sign of severe health problems, such as heart disease.

Erection Problem Treatments

Erectile dysfunction treatments include oral prescription medications, vacuum pumps, injections, and surgery. Before 1998, there were no medications available for ED. Approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) in 1998, Viagra prescription medications have become the most popular treatment for ED.

Viagra has eclipsed the $1 billion mark for annual worldwide sales since 1998, although Cialis and Levitra (introduced in 2003) have taken nearly half the market share.

The FDA warns online customers to avoid "generic," "professional," and "soft-tab" versions of the three FDA-approved ED medications for Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra. Any online facilitator that sells these varieties of Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra is selling counterfeit pills that are illegal in the U.S.

These counterfeit pills are potentially hazardous to your health because they contain unknown ingredients. They may also contain much less or much more of the active ingredient in FDA-approved ED pills (sildenafil citrate).

Causes for Loss of Erection

Three conditions must occur for a man to achieve an erection: The nerves to the penis must function properly; the blood circulation to the penis must be adequate, and there must be a stimulus from the brain. Prevention of a full erection is possible if something interferes with any of these conditions.

Common causes of ED include diseases that affect blood flow, such as atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries); nerve diseases, psychological factors, such as stress, depression, and performance anxiety; and injury to the penis. Chronic illness, specific prescription treatments, and a condition called Peyronie's disease or penis scar tissue can also cause ED.

Diseases (e.g., diabetes, kidney disease, alcoholism, atherosclerosis) account for as many as 70% of chronic ED cases, and psychological factors like stress, anxiety, or depression may account for 10–20% of prescriptions. Between 35 and 50% of males with diabetes show signs of Erectile Dysfunction.

For people at risk of developing ED due to personal behavior, such as drinking too much alcohol, take steps to prevent it. However, other causes of ED may not be preventable.

Prevalence of ED

According to the (NIH) National Institutes of Health, in 2002, an estimated 15 million to 30 million men in the U.S. experienced chronic ED. According to the NAMC (National Ambulatory Medical Care) Survey, approximately twenty-two out of every one thousand men in the U.S. (2.2%) sought medical attention for ED in 1999 – one year after Viagra entered the market.

Chronic ED affects about 5% of men in their 40s and 15–25% by age 65. Transient ED and inadequate results in as many as half of the men between the ages of 40 and 70.