Erectile dysfunction, also called impotence, is the male lack of ability to perform intercourse because of failure to initiate or maintain an erection until ejaculation. The disorder may be broadly characterized as psychogenic, in which case it is caused by emotional factors, or organic, caused by some physical problem such as an anatomic defect or circulatory problem. More specifically, neurogenic impotence results from a disorder of the nervous system, such as a central nervous system lesion, paralysis, or neurologic damage complicating diabetes. Erectile dysfunction may also be a side effect of drug treatment.

Drugs that are used to treat erectile dysfunction work by dilating arteries in the penis to increase blood flow to that organ. One highly prescribed drug of this sort is sildenafil (trade name, Viagra). Penile vacuum pumps and penile prostheses are nondrug approaches to therapy for erectile dysfunction.

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