Hormonal abnormalities from other conditions can affect erectile function. High levels of the female hormone estrogen account for the impotence experienced by men with liver disease. Prostate Cancer and Treatments for Prostate Disease Advanced prostate cancer can damage nerves needed for erectile function. Prostate surgery and surgical and radiation treatments for prostate and colorectal cancers can also cause impotence. Drugs About a quarter of all cases of impotence can be attributed to medications.
Many drugs pose a risk for erectile dysfunction.
Fortunately the condition is always resolved when the medication is changed. Other drugs that sometimes cause impotence include the antifungal drug ketoconazole, antihistamines, anticholinergic drugs, and drugs that block male hormones. Physical Injuries Spinal cord injury and pelvic trauma, such as a fracture, can cause nerve damage that frequently results in impotence. Smoking and Alcohol Use Heavy smoking is frequently cited as a contributory factor in the development of impotence, mainly because it accentuates the actions of other disorders of the blood vessels, including high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. Alcohol has also been implicated in causing impotence.