Erectile dysfunction means a male cannot achieve and sustain an erection sufficient for sexual intercourse. It affects about 50 percent of men to at least some degree--mild, moderate or severe--and is an increasingly common problem with age, according to the Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education. There are several types of erectile dysfunction.
Disease
An erection stems from a series of chain reactions, and nerve impulse transmissions, that begin with sexual stimulation in the higher cortical centers and culminate in the penis filling with blood. Any disruption along the way can cause erectile dysfunction. As a result, a range of diseases, particularly those affecting the neurological or vascular systems, can result in the inability of a man to have an erection and are, in fact, responsible for 70 percent of cases. Among the common causes: atherosclerosis, kidney disease and multiple sclerosis. Among men who have diabetes, between 35 and 50 percent have erectile dysfunction, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse.
Injury
Another type of erectile dysfunction is that caused by injury, such as an accident or surgery. Operations for cancer of the prostate or bladder are common offenders because they can damage blood vessels and nerves near the penis. Other causes of this variety of the disorder include traumatic injuries to the penis, pelvis, spinal cord and prostate.
Medications
Erectile dysfunction caused by medications is common, especially in older patients who may be taking several prescription drugs. Among those capable of inducing the disorder are psychiatric medications, blood pressure drugs, tranquilizers and the anti-ulcer medication cimetidine. One approach in such cases is to discontinue the drug suspected of causing the problem and switch to another medication. Another option is to continue the medication and also begin taking Viagra or treatment to address the erectile dysfunction directly. Some recreational drugs, including alcohol, can cause problems achieving erections.
Psychological
Another common category of erectile dysfunction involves cases with psychological causes at their roots. Between 10 and 20 percent of cases are of this type, according to the National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse. Stress, depression, guilt, anxiety and a fear of failing sexually are among the issues that can lead to this variety of erectile dysfunction. Counseling can benefit men with these problems.
