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Erectile dysfunction
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Erectile Dysfunction Drugs
Mayo Clinic
Related terms:
premature ejaculation
dyspareunia
vaginospasm
Disease or Syndrome
impotence Audio
im·po·tence [ im-puh-tuhns ]
Subclass of:
Physiological Sexual Disorders; Psychosexual Disorders; Genital Diseases, Male
Also called:
ED; Impotence
Definitions related to erectile dysfunction:
  • (impotence) Inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis.
    Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
    The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2025
  • (impotence) Inability to perform sexual intercourse.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Inability to develop or maintain an erection of the penis.
    Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
    The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2025
  • An inability to have an erection of the penis adequate for sexual intercourse.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a common type of male sexual dysfunction. It is when a man has trouble getting or keeping an erection. ED becomes more common as you get older. But it's not a natural part of aging. Some people have trouble speaking with their doctors about sex. But if you have ED, you should tell your doctor. ED can be a sign of health problems. It may mean your blood vessels are clogged. It may mean you have nerve damage from diabetes. If you don't see your doctor, these problems will go untreated. Your doctor can offer several new treatments for ED. For many men, the answer is as simple as taking a pill. Getting more exercise, losing weight, or stopping smoking may also help. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
    MedlinePlus
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • The inability in the male to have a PENILE ERECTION due to psychological or organ dysfunction.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2025
  • The inability to attain or maintain an erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
    NICHD Pediatric Terminology
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • The inability to get or maintain an erection sufficient for intercourse. Sometimes referred to as ED.
    Harvard Dictionary of Health Terms
    Harvard Medical Publishing, 2011
  • A disorder characterized by the persistent or recurrent inability to achieve or to maintain an erection during sexual activity.
    Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events
    U.S. National Institutes of Health, 2021
  • Erectile dysfunction is the inability to attain or sustain an erection satisfactory for sexual intercourse. Most erectile dysfunction is related to vascular, neurologic, psychologic, and hormonal disorders; drug use can also be a cause. Evaluation typically includes screening for underlying disorders and measuring testosterone levels....
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2025
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects 50% of men older than 40 years, exerting substantial effects on quality of life. This common problem is complex and involves multiple pathways.
    Medscape
    WebMD, 2025
  • Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is the inability to get and keep an erection firm enough for sex.
    Mayo Clinic
    Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2025
  • Erectile dysfunction (ED) is defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual performance.
    Epocrates
    Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
  • Impotence, in general, the inability of a man to achieve or maintain penile erection and hence the inability to participate fully in sexual intercourse. In its broadest sense the term impotence refers to the inability to become sexually aroused; in this sense it can apply to women as well as to...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2025
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