Impotence can be classified as primary or secondary. A man with primary impotence has never had successful intercourse with a partner but may achieve normal erections in other situations. This rare condition is difficult to treat. Treatment of secondary impotence is more successful than that of primary impotence because, despite current impotence problems, there is some history of success with completing intercourse in the past.
Male infertility is quite different from impotence.
A man who is unable to maintain an erection may be perfectly normal in every other way and very capable of fathering a child. Except for impotence caused by injury or sudden illness, secondary impotence usually comes on gradually. Aging alone does not cause impotence. Premature ejaculation , when orgasm comes on too quickly to satisfy either partner, is different from impotence. The couple should seek counseling for this problem.