The list of drugs that affect sexual function is extensive and includes alcohol, tobacco and most illegal drugs. If you are having problems with your sexual function, review your entire list of medications with your physician. Atherosclerosis , the common disease called hardening of the arteries that causes heart attacks and strokes , can also affect the blood supply to the penis. There are several other unusual conditions that also hinder blood flow to the penis. Nerve diseases .
Diabetes can damage nerves, as can surgery on the prostate or lower bowel.
Spinal cord damage or disease and even some brain diseases can likewise interfere with this complex function. Diseases or injury affecting the penis . Peyronie's disease and priapism are the diseases most often associated with impotence. Peyronie's disease is a condition of unknown cause that scars the penis and bends it. Priapism is the name for an erection that won't go away.