The difficulty in achieving or maintaining an erection can be caused by nervous disorders, but the most common is the narrowing of the arteries that supply the penis due to atherosclerosis.

Arteriosclerosis (hardening and narrowing of the arteries), diabetes, and depression can manifest itself first with a difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection.

There are over 200 types of drugs that may cause erectile dysfunction, including high blood pressure medications, antidepressants and many psychotropic drugs.

Alcohol is a potent inhibitor of erection, although it may increase sexual desire by the loss of self-control. As Shakespeare said, "alcohol increases sexual desire, but prevents its fulfillment."

When sexual dysfunction occurs sporadically, it can be cured in most cases. When it is permanent, there are also effective treatments.

Every man experiencing erectile dysfunction should consult a physician, as it may be the symptom of a disease, and in many cases can be solved.

Poorly treated diabetes eventually causes erection disorders. If diabetes is treated properly, it may take many years without erectile dysfunction.

Tobacco nicotine narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the penis, making it difficult to get an erection.

All men throughout their life suffer, at least on one occasion, an erection disorder.

Although mental state can influence erection, few erectile dysfunction cases are only due to mental disorders. There is almost always a vascular, metabolic, or nervous problem associated.