Persistent inability or difficulty to attain and maintain an erection (hardness in penis) sufficient for a satisfactory sexual performance.
Three types of symptoms can be experienced during sexual activity:
- Difficulty in gaining an erection during sexual activity
- Difficulty in maintaining an erection until the completion of sexual activity.
- Less rigid erections.
Erectile dysfunction can be:
- Lifelong: The disturbance has been present since the individual became sexually active
- Acquired: The disturbance became evident after a period of normal sexual function.
- Generalized: Similar difficulty in almost all situations irrespective of stimulation or partners.
- Situational: Difficulty occurs only with certain types of stimulation, situations or partners.
Risk Factors for Erectile Dysfunction
- Hormonal
- Drug-induced
- After surgery
- Hypertension and its drugs
- Diabetes Mellitus (Type 1 and 2)
- Thyroid disorders (hypo-/hyperthyroidism)
- Cancer and its treatment (surgery, chemo/radiotherapy)
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Stress (private/business life)
- Sedentary life-style
- Partnership problems
- Sexual orientation issue (homosexuality)
- Experiencing difficulty after chronic porn use or masturbation
- Performance Anxiety
- Difficulty while putting on condom
- Pressure for Pregnancy
- Concerns about size of penis
Erectile dysfunction may indicate future heart problem (approx. after 2-3 years).
Erectile dysfunction can lead to difficulty in achieving pregnancy which further increases the problem.
Some young men complain of difficulty in attaining erection and less rigid erections due to chronic porn use and / or masturbation, so we expect them to get treatment and counseling.