Erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction or male impotence is a sexual dysfunction characterised by the inability to develop or maintain an erection. There are various underlying causes, such as cardiovascular leakage or psychological problems, many of which are medically treatable. Other factors leading to erectile dysfunction are diabetes mellitus causing neuropathy or hypogonadism, decreased testosterone levels due to disease affecting the testicles or the pituitary gland.

Around one in ten men will experience recurring impotence problems at some point in their lives.

Treating erectile dysfunction

There are a number of treatments available; pills, injections prior to intercourse, vacuum pumps, hormone treatment or, more rarely, surgery, all of which take a while to become effective or may be invasive or inconvenient.