What is ED?

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is the repeated inability to get or keep an erection firm enough for sexual intercourse. Erectile dysfunction, or ED, can be a total inability to achieve erection, an inconsistent ability to do so, or a tendency to sustain only brief erections. The penis may not stay erect long enough to complete sex.

Many men have this health problem. In fact, about 30 million men in the United States have ED to some degree. Studies show that about half of the men between the ages of 40 and 70 have ED to some degree.

Many men in their twenty's and thirties also experience incidence of difficulty achieving and sustaining an erection.

ED is treatable at any age. Awareness of this fact has been growing.

There are many reasons why a man may develop ED. Despite the common myth, ED is not simply a result of aging. It is more likely to be caused by an underlying health problems and/or hormonal and nutritional deficencies.

How does an erection occur?

The penis contains two chambers called the corpora cavernosa, which run the length of the organ. A spongy tissue fills the chambers. The corpora cavernosa are surrounded by a membrane, called the tunica albuginea. The spongy tissue contains smooth muscles, fibrous tissues, spaces, veins, and arteries. The urethra, which is the channel for urine and ejaculate, runs along the underside of the corpora cavernosa and is surrounded by the corpus spongiosum.

Erection begins with sensory or mental stimulation, or both. Impulses from the brain and local nerves cause the muscles of the corpora cavernosa to relax, allowing blood to flow in and fill the spaces. The blood creates pressure in the corpora cavernosa, making the penis expand. The tunica albuginea helps trap the blood in the corpora cavernosa, thereby sustaining erection. When muscles in the penis contract to stop the inflow of blood and open outflow channels, erection is reversed.

Since an erection requires a precise sequence of events, ED can occur when any of the events is disrupted. The sequence includes nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, and area around the penis, and response in muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries in and near the corpora cavernosa.