Also known as impotence, erectile dysfunction is the inability to get or keep an erection. Psychological causes include stress, fatigue, depression, and relationship problems. Possible physical causes include atherosclerosis (narrowing of the blood vessels), diabetes , or nervous system problems, such as multiple sclerosis or spinal cord damage.
Some medications also cause erection difficulties as a side effect, as can drinking too much alcohol.
Erectile dysfunction can also result if nerves supplying the penis are damaged during surgery—for example, in operations on the prostate gland.
Treatment of erectile dysfunction depends on the cause, but may include counseling or psychological therapy, lifestyle changes, medication, devices to help with erections, or, rarely, surgery