Erectile dysfunction (ED)

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Erectile dysfunction (ED) means that you cannot get a proper erection. Most cases are due to narrowing of the arteries that take blood to the penis. This is due to a build-up of fatty deposits (atheroma) in these arteries in the same way that heart arteries are affected in people with heart disease. ED is usually treatable, most commonly by a tablet taken before sex. You may also receive lifestyle advice and treatments to minimise your risk of heart disease.

IN THIS ARTICLE

• What is erectile dysfunction?
• How common is erectile dysfunction?
• How does an erection normally occur?
• What causes erectile dysfunction?
• Erectile dysfunction, heart disease and other vascular diseases
• What should I do if I develop persistent erectile dysfunction?
• What tests may be done?
• What are the treatment options?
• Other treatments for erectile dysfunction
• Treatment for erectile dysfunction on the NHS.

Having ED means that you cannot get and/or maintain an erection. In some cases the penis becomes partly erect but not hard enough to have sex properly. In some cases, there is no swelling or fullness of the penis at all. ED is sometimes called impotence.

Most men have occasional times when they cannot get an erection. For example, you may not get an erection so easily if you are tired, stressed, distracted, or have drunk too much alcohol. For most men it is only temporary and an erection occurs most times when you are sexually aroused.

However, some men have persistent, or recurring, ED. It can occur at any age but becomes more common with increasing age. About half of men between the ages of 40 and 70 have ED. About 7 in 10 men aged 70 and above have ED.

When you are sexually aroused, messages from your brain travel down nerves to your penis. Chemicals called neurotransmitters are then released from the ends of the nerves in the penis. Stimulation of the penis can also cause local nerve endings to release neurotransmitter chemicals.

The neurotransmitters which are released in the penis cause another chemical to be made, called cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP). This chemical causes the arteries in the penis to widen (dilate). This allows extra blood to flood into the penis. The rapid inflow of blood causes the penis to swell into an erection. The swollen inner part of the penis also presses on the veins nearer to the skin surface of the penis. These veins normally drain the penis of blood. So, the flow of blood out of the penis is also restricted, which enhances the erection.

Once you stop having sex, the level of cGMP falls, the blood flow to the penis returns to normal and the penis gradually returns to the non-erect state.

There are several causes which tend to be grouped into those that are mainly physical and those that are mainly due to mental health (psychological).

Physical causes

About 8 in 10 cases of ED are due to a physical cause. Causes include:

• Reduced blood flow to the penis : This is, by far, the most common cause of ED in men over the age of 40. Like in other parts of the body, the arteries which take blood to the penis can become narrowed. The blood flow may then not be enough to cause an erection. Risk factors can increase your chance of narrowing of the arteries. These include getting older, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and  smoking.
• Diseases which affect the nerves going to the penis : For example, multiple sclerosis, a stroke, Parkinson's disease, etc.
• Diabetes : This is one of the most common causes of ED. Diabetes can affect blood vessels and nerves.
• Hormonal causes : For example, a lack of a hormone called testosterone which is made in the testicles (testes). This is uncommon. However, one cause of a lack of testosterone that is worth highlighting is a previous head injury. A head injury can sometimes affect the function of the pituitary gland in the brain. The pituitary gland makes a hormone that stimulates the testicle (testis) to make testosterone. So, although it may not at first seem connected, a previous head injury can in fact lead to ED. Other symptoms of a low testosterone level include a reduced sex drive (libido) and changes in mood.
• Injury to the nerves going to the penis : For example, spinal injury, following surgery to nearby structures, fractured pelvis, radiotherapy to the genital area, etc.
• Side-effect of certain medicines : The most common are some antidepressants; beta-blockers such as propranolol, atenolol, etc; some 'water tablets' (diuretics); cimetidine. Many other less commonly used tablets sometimes cause ED.
• Alcohol and drug abuse :
• Cycling : ED after long-distance cycling is thought to be common. It is probably due to pressure on the nerves going to the penis, from sitting on the saddle for long periods. This may affect the function of the nerve after the ride. 
• Excessive outflow of blood from the penis through the veins (venous leak) : This is rare but can be caused by various conditions of the penis.

In most cases due to physical causes (apart from injury or after surgery), the ED tends to develop slowly. So, you may have intermittent or partial ED for a while, which may gradually become worse. If the ED is due to a physical cause, you are likely still to have a normal sex drive apart from if the cause is due to a hormonal problem. In some cases, ED causes poor self-esteem, anxiety and even depression. These reactions to ED can make the problem worse.

Mental heath (psychological) causes

Various mental health conditions may cause you to develop ED. They include:

• Stress - for example, due to a difficult work or home situation.
• Anxiety.
• Relationship difficulties.
• Depression.

Typically, the ED develops quite suddenly if it is a symptom of a mental health problem. The ED may resolve when your mental state improves - for example, if your anxiety or depression eases. However, some people become even more anxious or depressed when they develop ED. They do not realise it is a reaction to their mental health problem. This can make matters worse and lead to a vicious circle of worsening anxiety and persisting ED.

As a rule, a psychological cause for the ED is more likely than a physical cause if there are times when you can get a good erection, even though most of the time you cannot. (For example, if you can get an erection by masturbating, or wake up in the morning with an erection.)

Although ED can be caused by various conditions, about 7 in 10 cases are due to narrowing of the small arteries in the penis. This causes reduced blood flow to the penis. This is the same problem that can occur in other blood vessels. For example, narrowing of the blood vessels in the heart (the coronary arteries) is a cause of angina and other heart problems. Narrowing of blood vessels to the brain is a risk factor for having a stroke. Narrowing of blood vessels in the legs can cause peripheral arterial disease.

Atheroma is the root cause of the narrowing of the arteries. Atheroma is like fatty patches or plaques that develop within the inside lining of arteries. (This is similar to water pipes that get furred up with scale.) Plaques of atheroma may gradually form over a number of years in one or more places in the body, commonly in arteries going to the heart, brain, legs and penis. In time, these can become bigger and cause enough narrowing of one or more of the arteries to result in symptoms and problems.

Certain risk factors increase the risk of more atheroma forming, which can make atheroma-related conditions worse. Briefly, risk factors that can be modified and may help to prevent atheroma-related conditions from getting worse are:

• Smoking : Smoking is one of the biggest risk factors for developing an atheroma-related condition. Smoking roughly doubles your chance of developing ED. Young smokers may not be aware that they have a much greater risk of developing ED by middle age compared with non-smokers. If you smoke, make every effort to stop.
• High blood pressure : Make sure your blood pressure is checked at least once a year. If it is high, it can be treated.
• If you are overweight, losing some weight is advised.
• A high cholesterol : This can be treated if it is high.
• Inactivity : We should all aim to do some moderate physical activity on most days of the week for at least 30 minutes. For example, brisk walking, swimming, cycling, dancing, gardening, etc.
• Diet : Aim to eat a healthy diet.
• Alcohol excess : Alcohol and Sensible Drinking.
• Diabetes : If you have diabetes, good control of the blood sugar level and blood pressure can help to minimise the impact of diabetes on the blood vessels.

Note: ED caused by narrowed arteries commonly develops several years before any symptoms or problems develop due to narrowing of the heart (coronary) arteries (or other arteries). Therefore, ED is thought of as an 'early warning signal' that heart disease (or other cardiovascular diseases) may develop. A large international study found that men with ED are twice as likely to have a heart attack, 10% more likely to have a stroke and 20% more likely to be admitted to hospital with heart failure. This is why some of the tests listed below may be advised if you develop ED. Also, you are likely to be advised by your doctor on how to modify any risk factors listed above. The aim is to prevent heart disease and other cardiovascular disease from developing.

This was the most common treatment before tablets became available. It usually works very well. You are taught how to inject a medicine into the base of the penis. This causes increased blood flow, following which an erection usually develops within 15 minutes. (Unlike with tablets, the erection occurs whether of not you are sexually aroused.)

You can place a small pellet into the end of the tube which passes urine and opens at the end of the penis (the urethra). The pellet contains a similar medicine to that used for the injection treatment. The medicine is quickly absorbed into the penis to cause an erection, usually within 10-15 minutes.

There are several different devices. Basically, you put your penis into a plastic container. A pump then sucks out the air from the container to create a vacuum. This causes blood to be drawn into the penis and cause an erection. When erect, a rubber band is placed at the base of the penis to maintain the erection. The plastic container is then taken off the penis and the penis remains erect until the rubber band is removed (which must be removed within 30 minutes).

 A surgeon can insert a rod permanently into the penis. The most sophisticated (expensive) type can be inflated with an inbuilt pump to cause an erection. The more basic type has to be straightened by hand.

Treating an underlying cause

For example, treating depression, anxiety, changing medication, cutting back on drinking lots of alcohol, or treating certain hormonal conditions may cure the associated ED.

Lifestyle and other advice

As mentioned above, ED is often a marker that heart disease or other cardiovascular diseases may soon develop. Therefore, you should review your lifestyle to see if any changes can be made to minimise the risk of developing these problems.

Also, your doctor may prescribe a statin medicine to lower your blood cholesterol level if your risk of developing cardiovascular disease is high.

Counselling

Sometimes couple counselling, or sex therapy is useful. These are most useful if certain mental health (psychological) problems are the cause of, or the result of, ED.

In some cases, sex therapy is used in addition to another treatment option.

In England, Scotland and Wales sildenafil is available on NHS prescription from GPs as well as specialists for all men who have ED. In Northern Ireland, a specialist has to assume responsibility for prescribing it.

Tadalafil, vardenafil and avanafil are only available to those patients who have one of the specified medical conditions listed below. Other men can receive a private prescription from their own GP.

The specified medical conditions are:

• Diabetes.
• Multiple sclerosis.
• Parkinson's disease.
• Poliomyelitis.
• Prostate cancer.
• Following an operation to remove the prostate gland (prostatectomy).
• Having had radical pelvic surgery.
• Chronic kidney disease treated by dialysis or transplant.
• Following severe pelvic injury.
• Single gene neurological disease.
• Spinal cord injury.
• Spina bifida.

A specialist can also prescribe treatments using medication on the NHS if your condition causes severe distress in your life. Examples would be relationship breakdown, social problems or effects on mood or behaviour.