Introduction

Many men have difficulty getting erections at some time in their life. But there are treatments that can help.

We've brought together the best research about erection problems and weighed up the evidence about how to treat them. You can use our information to talk to your doctor and decide which treatments are best for you.

Most men have trouble getting an erection at some time in their life. But some men can't get an erection at all. And some men have trouble keeping an erection long enough to have sex that is satisfying. But there are treatments that can help. If you have erection problems, talk to your doctor about finding the right treatment for you.

Doctors call this condition erectile dysfunction. This problem used to be called impotence. But erectile dysfunction is a more accurate name.

If you have erection problems, you may feel embarrassed or ashamed. These feelings stop many men seeing their doctor. But it's important to remember that many men have trouble getting erections at some time in their life, and that doctors see this problem all the time.

Thanks to recent advances in medicine, most men can find a treatment that works.

Key points about erection problems

• If you have erection problems, you have trouble getting an erection or keeping an erection long enough to have sex that is satisfying.

• As you get older, you're more likely to get erection problems.

• About 8 in 10 erection problems happen because of physical problems such as diabetes and heart disease. Many drugs can also cause erection problems as a side effect.

• You should see your doctor. Erection problems can be an early sign of heart disease, diabetes, or depression.

• Most men with an erection problem feel embarrassed, which can make the problem worse. And these problems can be difficult to talk about.

• Viagra (sildenafil) works well, but not for everyone. There are also some other good treatments.

• If you're married or have a partner, it can be a good idea to involve them if you talk to your doctor about your erection problems.

What happens when you get an erection

To understand erection problems and how they can be treated, it's useful to know how your penis works and how erections happen.^[1]

Your penis is mainly made up of spongy tissue and blood vessels.

The tube that carries urine and semen runs through the middle. It's called the urethra.

The tip of your penis is called the glans. The rest of your penis is called the shaft.

Two columns of spongy tissue run through the upper part of your penis. When you have an erection, the spongy columns fill up with blood and get stiff.