Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence)

Penile erection is a complex interaction of both halves of your autonomic (automatic) nervous system, your blood circulation, and your emotions. Therefore, the patient may have symptoms suggestive of a psychological problem, such as ]]>depression]]> , and/or a medical problem, such as ]]>diabetes]]> . Any one of these conditions can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Symptoms include:

A less firm penis
Fewer erections
Fewer spontaneous nighttime erections

Your penis is made up of cylinders with tough linings. These linings can hold large amounts of blood at sufficient pressure to keep it stiff for a period of time. Normally, when stimulated either locally or from your emotions, blood vessels that empty your penis constrict. This prevents blood from exiting. Blood vessels inside your penis open to accept more blood.

References:

Guay AT, Spark RF, Bansal S, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists medical guidelines for clinical practice for the evaluation and treatment of male sexual dysfunction: a couple’s problem. 2003 update. Endocr Pract. 2003;9:77-95.

National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: http://diabetes.niddk.nih.gov/ .

Sivalingam S, Hashim H, Schwaibold H. An overview of the diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction. Drugs. 2006;66:2339-2355.

Webber R. Erectile dysfunction. Clinical Evidence. 2005;13:1120-1127.

Last reviewed November 2008 by ]]>Adrienne Carmack, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.