What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when you have trouble achieving or keeping an erection. ED can also be an early sign of an underlying health condition. ED causes significant stress, anxiety, or embarrassment for many people. It is extremely common. About half of all men over 50 experience some loss of erectile function. However, only about 10% seek treatment.
Erectile Dysfunction Symptoms
The main symptom of erectile dysfunction is problems with getting or keeping an erection:
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Brief or premature loss of erections
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Inconsistent ability to achieve erections
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Total inability to get an erection
Erectile dysfunction is often the symptom of another health problem. Talk to your health care provider if you experience any additional symptoms.
What Causes Erectile Dysfunction?
There are many potential causes of erectile dysfunction:
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Endocrine disorders are conditions affecting your hormones. Disorders including hypogonadism (low testosterone) and hyperprolactinemia (high prolactin, a hormone your pituitary gland creates) can cause ED.
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Lifestyle factors such as drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and using marijuana or cocaine
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Medications such as antidepressants, blood pressure medications, heart rhythm medicines, and drugs that block testosterone
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Neurologic conditions including stroke, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease
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Pelvic surgery including surgeries for bladder cancer, rectal cancer, or prostate problems
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Radiation therapy to your pelvis
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Traumatic injuries to your pelvis or spinal cord
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Vascular conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, and high cholesterol
Does Masturbation Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Research shows no consistent link between masturbation and ED.
Diabetes and Erectile Dysfunction
About half of men with diabetes experience ED within 10 years of their diagnosis. High blood sugar can damage the nerves and blood vessels that help you get and keep erections.
Oral ED medications work effectively in only about half of men with diabetes. Your doctor will likely recommend other treatments if you have diabetes.
Heart Disease and Erectile Dysfunction
ED and heart disease are closely linked. Some studies have shown that ED can be a warning sign of heart disease.
Coronary artery disease occurs when plaque (a fatty substance) builds up and blocks the blood vessels in your heart. Sometimes, plaque builds up in the blood vessels in other parts of your body before affecting your heart. You may experience blood vessel blockages in your penis earlier than in your heart. This causes ED. These blockages cause ED but are not part of coronary artery disease. However, blood vessel blockages in your penis could mean you’re at risk for heart disease.
Learn more about the link between blood pressure and erectile dysfunction.
Does Prostate Cancer Cause Erectile Dysfunction?
Prostate cancer itself doesn’t cause ED. The nerves that control your erections are close to your prostate. Radiation therapy or prostate surgery may damage these nerves and cause ED. Usually, symptoms are worst immediately after prostate treatment. Sometimes they get better over time.
Find a Men's Health Doctor
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment
Our urological specialists offer a range of personalized treatments to help you achieve the sexual function you want. Learn more about erectile dysfunction treatment.
What to Expect at Your ED Appointment
Why Choose University of Utah Health?
Our team includes fellowship-trained urologists and experienced advanced practice providers. They specialize in conditions that affect men’s sexual health and fertility. We create a safe, empathetic, supportive environment to discuss your needs and concerns. Our experts provide many treatments to help increase your quality of life and sexual health.
Schedule an Appointment
Call 801-587-1454 or request an appointment online to connect with our team. You don’t need a referral to make an appointment. Our financial counselor will confirm your insurance coverage and review your overall costs with you.
Video: Erectile Dysfunction Explained, Past Seminar
Meet Our Patients
Gene Miluk
The first time he experienced ED in his mid-50s he thought it was just a fluke, which was a reasonable assumption to make. More than half of men experience episodic erectile dysfunction at some time in their life from things like stress, too much alcohol, or as a side effect of medication.
