Erectile Disorder

Prevalence

• The prevalence of lifelong versus acquired erectile disorder is unknown.

• There is a strong age-related increase in both prevalence and incidence of problems with erection, particularly after age 50 years.

• Approximately 13%-21% of men ages 40-80 years complain of occasional problems with erections.

• Approximately 2% of men younger than age 40-50 years complain of frequent problems with erections, whereas 40%-50% of men older than 60-70 years may have significant problems with erections.

• About 20% of men fear erectile problems on their first sexual experience, whereas approximately 8% experienced erectile problems that hindered penetration during their first sexual experience.

Symptoms

• At least one of the three following symptoms must be experienced on almost all or all (approximately 75%-100%) occasions of sexual activity (in identified situational contexts or, if generalized, in all contexts):

1. Marked difficulty in obtaining an erection during sexual activity.

2. Marked difficulty in maintaining an erection until the completion of sexual activity.

3. Marked decrease in erectile rigidity.

• The symptoms have persisted for a minimum duration of approximately 6 months.

• The symptoms cause clinically significant distress in the individual.

• The sexual dysfunction is not better explained by a nonsexual mental disorder or as a consequence of severe relationship distress or other significant stressors and is not attributable to the effects of a substance/medication or another medical condition.