What Causes Impotence ?

What Causes Impotence ?

Prostate cancer and surgery can cause impotence

To get an erection, you need the healthy blood vessels and nerves that control blood flow to your penis. Damage to these blood vessels and nerves can cause erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence. When you have ED, you cannot get or maintain an erection that is firm enough for sexual intercourse. Damage can be done by disease such as diabetes, injury, or surgery. Prostate cancer, surgery, and some other treatments for prostate cancer are high risks for ED.

Many men with diabetes also have impotence

Failure to get an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse is called erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence. Many men with diabetes are impotent.

Heart disease can lead to impotence

Circulation problems are the most common cause of ED in men over 50. These problems prevent or reduce blood flow to the penis. Heart disease is one of many causes of circulation problems. One clinical study found that men treated for heart disease had a 39% chance of having the most severe erectile dysfunction. Among all men, the chance of having ED is 10%.

Peyronie's disease can cause impotence

A man with Peyronie's disease has hardened or "calcified" tissues in his penis. These tissues are called plaque. The hardening is in the tunica abluginea. This is the sheath surrounding the spongy tissue in the penis. The hardening often causes pain and curvature, usually during erection.

Other Causes

In addition to the major physical causes of erectile dysfunction, there are other causes such as spinal cord injuries, smoking, alcohol, MS, vascular disease and more.