It's somewhat misleading to talk of the symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED), since the condition itself is really a symptom. In medical parlance a symptom is any condition which indicates the presence of something else. It is an effect of some cause. But in ED, the symptom is itself the 'something else'.

Yet, ED is also an indication of an underlying condition, usually physiological if the inability to attain or sustain erection is long-lived or chronic. It may be the result of neurological issues, hormone deficiencies or caused by a disease such as diabetes. It may also be the result of some serious psychological issue, such as depression or chronic anxiety.

As the population ages, thanks to improved medical care, better housing and food, along with social changes, individuals are enjoying sex more into later ages. That results in the perception that erectile dysfunction - which can occur at any age post puberty but affects men more as they approach and pass 65 - is a bona fide medical condition. That perception has a real basis.

Sex is a fulfilling function in human life. When it can't occur because of ED, the psychological results can be tragic. ED is also, as described above, an indicator of disease. As such, finding and analyzing symptoms that cause ED, then treating it, is often part of a larger strategy for treating the underlying cause.

Since a partial or negligible erection on an ongoing basis is a symptom of some underlying condition, there will be other symptoms that accompany it. High blood pressure is one example. Excess blood glucose and continual thirst are two more. Those are classic signs of diabetes, one of the most common diseases causing erectile dysfunction.

Accompanying symptoms may be psychological in nature, too. Depression is a common factor in chronic impotence. But determining which is cause and which effect can be difficult, since the relationship is reciprocal. Depression can cause ED, which in turn may lead to a deepening of the depression.

When there's no underlying relevant physiological factor, it may be simple performance anxiety. Men in certain circumstances, particularly if they've been widowed or divorced late in life, may not have had a sexual partner for months or years. Suddenly becoming sexually active again can cause doubt about the ability to become erect. That anxiety may then lead to actual impotence. The failure to achieve erection tends to reinforce the belief that one can't in fact perform, causing further anxiety. Another vicious cycle is thus established.

Whether ED occurs without obvious accompanying symptoms, or is part of a cluster of effects, the best course of action is to be diagnosed by a professional. He or she can then recommend the appropriate treatments. That may be a prescription drug, such as Viagra or Cialis, or it may be a matter of treating some underlying disease. But in any case, the options today are numerous and generally effective.

Is erectile dysfunction a sign of more serious health problems?
Communicating With Your Partner
Coping With Erectile Dysfunction
Counseling, More Than Just Talking
Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile Dysfunction, No Longer Impotence
Prospects for Improvement
Prosthetic Treatments
Side Effects of Erectile Dysfunction Treatments
Some Physical Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Some Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Symptoms of Erectile Dysfunction
Treating Erectile Dysfunction
Viagra, Cialis and Levitra
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?