An erection is a complex response to psychological and tactile stimuli which results in increased blood flow to the penis. Erectile dysfunction, more commonly referred to as impotence, is the inability to obtain and maintain the erection necessary for successful sexual intercourse.
Impotence can be the result of multipule problems.
These may include diabetes mellitus, vascular disorders, hormonal imbalance, traumatic injury, neurologic disease or any one of a number of urologic disorders. Erectile dysfunction may also be psychologically based. One out of every eight males in the United States is affected by erectile dysfunction. This represents approximately 10 million individuals. The first step in treating erectile dysfunction is to determine the cause or causes.