But medical information is always changing, and some information given here may be out of date. For regularly updated information on a variety of health topics, please visit familydoctor.org , the AAFP patient education Web site. An article on this topic is available in this issue of AFP . Erectile dysfunction is when men can't get a penile erection or can't keep an erection long enough to finish having sex.
Erectile dysfunction is a highly common problem.
Ten to 20 million men in the United States have erectile dysfunction to some degree. The chance of having problems with erection increases as men age, but many older men have no problems at all. Many medical conditions, the use of certain medicines and psychologic problems may cause erectile dysfunction. The most common cause of erectile dysfunction is problems with the blood vessels that carry blood to the penis. In some men, the blood vessels narrow and don't allow the increased blood flow needed for a full erection.