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Erectile dysfunction (ED): the causes, the tests, and the treatment
For anyone who has trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex, and for their partners. The National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK, part of the NIH) says ED is common, that it is not a routine part of aging, that it may be a symptom of another health problem, and that it can often be treated. This page passes on, by name, what NIDDK says: what ED is and how common it is; what can cause it, medicines included; the visit and the tests; the treatment (lifestyle changes, counseling, medicines, devices, surgery) and when to call right away; and what can help prevent it. It builds the words to say, so you do not have to find them, and prints a card to keep with you.
Right now
- An erection that has lasted more than 4 hours, or lost sight or hearing after an ED medicine? NIDDK says to call your health care professional right away. If you cannot reach them, go to an emergency room (ours).
- Chest pain, trouble breathing, or fainting, during sex or at any time? Call 911 (ours).
- Thinking of buying ED pills online? NIDDK says not to order an ED medicine online before talking with a health care professional. NIDDK’s Spanish page (2017) says never to take them with nitrates for a heart condition.
- Worn down, or thinking of ending your life? Call or text 988, any hour (ours).
More help
- On this site: Kidneys and bladder: find the right page · Enlarged prostate (BPH) · Getting ready for prostate tests.
- What can sit behind it: Diabetes · Diabetic neuropathy · High blood pressure · High cholesterol · Depression · Anxiety.
- A first step: Quit smoking · When drinking or drugs have become a problem.
- Getting ready: My medicines list · Get ready for your appointment · When you can’t afford your medicine · When you need a doctor and can’t pay.
- In a crisis: Help right now (988, 911). All our free tools.
Kidneys, bladder or urine, and not sure this is the right page? The pages on this site for bladder infections, kidney stones, blood in the urine, bladder pain, bladder leaks, the prostate, kidney disease and bedwetting, on one list.
Other guides on this site that go with this page
Free to read. We chose these ourselves; no professional did. Each guide was written with AI and has not been reviewed by a professional. They are general information, not advice.
- Prostatitis: the four types, the symptoms, the tests, and the treatment: prostatitis (an inflamed prostate): the four types, the symptoms and when to seek care right away, the exam and the tests, and the treatment.
This page and its wording were written with AI (Claude) for Scarlet Beast (our AI policy). No doctor or nurse has reviewed it. The facts were read on October 18, 2026 on NIDDK’s (NIH) page Erectile Dysfunction (ED) (last reviewed October 2024) and its Spanish page Disfunción eréctil (DE) (July 2017), which is older and says some things the English page does not: where this page passes one on, it says “NIDDK’s Spanish page (2017)”. The numbers (30 million to 50 million men; about 40% at age 40 and 70% by age 70; 4 hours; 150 minutes a week; 30 minutes for the ring) are NIDDK’s. Ours: 911 for chest pain, trouble breathing or fainting; the emergency room when the professional cannot be reached right away; never taking an ED medicine with a nitrate unless the doctor who knows both says so; the after-hours number on your card; 988; and the order of the steps. What we left out: doses, brand names, the references, the clinical-trials section, and NIDDK’s outside links. This page saves nothing and loads no trackers.