Erectile Dysfunction (Print Version)

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Erectile Dysfunction

URL of this page: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/erectiledysfunction.html

Also called: Also called: ED, Impotence

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is when you have trouble getting or keeping an erection. ED becomes more common as you get older. But it is not a natural part of aging.

Some people have trouble speaking with their doctors about sex. But if you have ED, you should tell your doctor. ED can be a sign of health problems. It may mean your blood vessels are clogged. It may mean you have nerve damage from diabetes. If you don't see your doctor, these problems will go untreated.

Your doctor can offer several new treatments for ED. For many men, the answer is as simple as taking a pill. Getting more exercise, losing weight or stopping smoking may also help.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

Start Here

Erectile Dysfunction(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/impotence/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/impotence/index.htm
Erectile Dysfunction(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/erectiledysfunctionyourchoices/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/erectiledysfunctionyourchoicesspanish/htm/index.htm

Overviews

Erectile Dysfunction(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/erectile-dysfunction/DS00162/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
Erectile Dysfunction: Causes and Effects(American Medical Association) - http://www.medem.com/medlb/article_detaillb.cfm?article_ID=ZZZKV6W3NAC&sub_cat=57
What I Need to Know about Erection Problems(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/ED_ez/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/spanish/pubs/ED_EZ/index.htm

Latest News

Sleep Apnea May Cause Erectile Dysfunction(09/12/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69235.html
Statins Might Reverse Erectile Dysfunction in Some Men(08/15/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68208.html

Diagnosis/Symptoms

Testosterone Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/testosterone/test.html

Treatment

Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral Medications(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/erectile-dysfunction/MC00029/METHOD=print
Penile Prostheses for Erectile Dysfunction(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=111
Also available in Spanish http://urologyhealth.org/espanol/espanol.cfm?topic=111
Penis Pumps for Erectile Dysfunction: Improve Your Sexual Function(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/penis-pump/MC00059/METHOD=print
Sex Therapy: Is It an Option for You?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/sex-therapy/MC00065/METHOD=print
Surgical Management of Erectile Dysfunction(American Urological Association) - http://urologyhealth.org/adult/index.cfm?cat=11&topic=128
Testosterone Replacement Therapy(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/services/testosterone_replacement_therapy/hic_testosterone_replacement_therapy.aspx
Treating Erectile Dysfunction: Lifestyle Changes(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/erectile_disorder_impotence/hic_treating_erectile_dysfunction_lifestyle_changes.aspx

Alternative Therapy

Buying Fake ED Products Online(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/erectiledysfunction010408.html
Erectile Dysfunction Treatment: Can Herbal Remedies Help?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/erectile-dysfunction-treatment/AN01474/METHOD=print
Yohimbe(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/yohimbe/index.htm

Coping

Depression and Erectile Dysfunction(Cleveland Clinic Foundation) - http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/depression/hic_depression_and_erectile_dysfunction.aspx
Professional Help: Sexuality and Cancer(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mit/content/mit_7_2x_where_to_seek_professional_help_women.asp

Specific Conditions

Erectile Dysfunction: What Causes a Lopsided Erection?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/erectile-dysfunction/AN00600/METHOD=print
Peyronie's Disease(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/peyronie/index.htm
Peyronie's Disease(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/peyronies-disease/DS00427/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print

Related Issues

Effects of Cancer Treatment on Male Sexuality(American Cancer Society) - http://www.cancer.org/docroot/mit/content/mit_7_2x_cancer_treatments_effects_on_male_sexuality.asp?sitearea=mit
Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes: Take Control Today(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/erectile-dysfunction/DA00045/METHOD=print
Erectile Dysfunction: A Sign of Heart Disease?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/erectile-dysfunction/HB00074/METHOD=print
Erectile Dysfunction: What to Expect during Your Doctor Visit(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/erectile-dysfunction/MC00060/METHOD=print
Impotence and Loss of Libido(National Women's Health Information Center) - http://womenshealth.gov/mens/sexual/impotence.cfm

Tutorials

Erectile Dysfunction(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/erectiledysfunctionyourchoices/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/erectiledysfunctionyourchoicesspanish/htm/index.htm

Videos

Minimally Invasive Penile Impant Surgery(OR-Live) - Requires media player - One hour program - 3/26/2007 - http://www.or-live.com/distributors/NLM/rnh.cfm?id=418

Clinical Trials

ClinicalTrials.gov: Erectile Dysfunction(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Erectile+Dysfunction%22
ClinicalTrials.gov: Impotence(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Impotence%22

Journal Articles

References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

Article: Safety of prescribing PDE-5 inhibitors via e-medicine vs traditional medicine. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18674473&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Effect of vardenafil on blood pressure profile of patients with... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18639296&tool=MedlinePlus
Article: Primary penile venous leakage surgery with crural ligation in men... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18639295&tool=MedlinePlus
Erectile Dysfunction -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=erectile+dysfunction[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus

Dictionaries/Glossaries

Glossary(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/glossary/index.cfm

Directories

Directory of Kidney and Urologic Diseases Organizations(National Kidney and Urologic Diseases Information Clearinghouse) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/resources/organizations.htm
Find a Urologist(American Urological Association) - http://www.urologyhealth.org/find_urologist/

Organizations

American Urological Association - http://www.auanet.org/
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

Statistics

Kidney and Urologic Diseases Statistics for the United States(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://kidney.niddk.nih.gov/kudiseases/pubs/kustats/

You may also be interested in these MedlinePlus related pages:

Penis Disorders - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/penisdisorders.html
Male Reproductive System - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/malereproductivesystem.html
Men - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/men.html
Seniors - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/seniors.html
Sexual Health Issues - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/sexualhealthissues.html

The primary NIH organization for research on Erectile Dysfunction is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases - http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

Date last updated: October 30 2008

Topic last reviewed: October 15 2008