Although in the past it was commonly believed to be due to psychological problems, it is now known that 80-90 percent of impotence is caused by physical problems, usually related to the blood supply of the penis. Many advances have occurred in both diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction . According to the National Institutes of Health, erectile dysfunction is also a symptom in many disorders and diseases. It is estimated that two men in five have problems getting an erection at age 40, and nearly seven in 10 at age 70. Accurate risk factor identification and characterization are essential for prevention or treatment of erectile dysfunction.
Premature ejaculation is divided into primary and secondary forms.
Like any learned behavior, it can be unlearned. Secondary PE is due to physical causes, usually involving the penile arteries or veins or both. Also, some antidepressant medications may cause erectile failure. When the problem is arterial, it is usually caused by arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, although trauma to the arteries may be the cause. There are 5 million diabetic adult men in the US, and it is estimated that half are impotent and the other half will become impotent in time.