Men’s Health
Erectile Dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction is a common but treatable condition. Our experts offer advanced diagnosis and treatment to improve your sexual health.
Medically reviewed by Philip Hsiao, M.D. on April 15, 2026.
What Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is an ongoing inability to have or keep an erection. It is more than just trouble having an erection once in a while.
Your body needs the right conditions to support an erection. Blood flow, hormones, muscles and nerves work together to stimulate your penis. When one or more of these contributors don’t work properly, it becomes difficult for you to achieve or maintain an erection.
ED affects millions of men at many stages of life. Older men have more difficulty with ED, but it’s not an inevitable part of aging. ED can indicate underlying disease, so it’s important to get checked by your physician. In many cases, ED is treatable.
UC Davis Health urology experts treat ED using innovative techniques, including performing a high volume of penile implants. Our urology experts offer compassionate, confidential care to support your physical, emotional and sexual well-being.
On this page
ED Symptoms
ED symptoms may start gradually or develop suddenly.
Common Symptoms
These are common signs of erectile dysfunction:
- Achieving only occasional erections
- Erections too brief for satisfying sex
- Inability to achieve an erection
Emergency Symptoms
Get help right away if you experience these symptoms:
- Erection lasting more than four hours (priapism)
- Signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain, nausea, and shortness of breath
Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
Many physical, psychological and lifestyle factors influence ED. Some medical treatments also cause ED.
Lifestyle Factors
Doing too little physical activity, smoking, drinking alcohol or using recreational drugs increases your risk for ED.
Medical Treatments
Male reproductive and urologic cancer treatment, certain prescription medications and of some surgeries, like prostate removal, may cause ED.
Physical Causes
Diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, low testosterone, obesity and injury can cause ED. Multiple sclerosis and other neurological disease may also contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Psychological Causes
Anxiety, depression and stress can affect your erections. Living with ED may also cause you to become more anxious.
Erectile Dysfunction Diagnosis and Testing
Our top-ranked medical center offers you personalized, expert diagnosis and testing to identify the underlying cause of erectile dysfunction.
Your urology visit begins with a review of your medical and sexual history and a physical examination of your genitalia. Testing may include:
Lab Testing
We check your blood for signs of disease and hormone imbalance.
Specialized Testing
We use ultrasound and penile injections to evaluate your pelvic health and erections.
Erectile Dysfunction Treatments
The right treatment may help you overcome erectile dysfunction. We offer a full range of medical and surgical treatments so you can find an option compatible with your lifestyle.
Counseling
You may be referred for sex therapy, which can help individuals and couples reduce performance anxiety and improve your mental health.
Vacuum Devices
A non-surgical vacuum device draws blood into your penis using suction.
Oral medications
Drugs including tadalafil (Cialis®), vardenafil (Levitra®), avanafil (Stendra®) and sildenafil (Viagra®) increase blood flow to your penis.
Self-Injections
A self-injection of prescription medication into your penis can help trigger an erection.
Implants
When other treatments don’t work, a surgical implant allows you to control when and how long you have an erection.
ED Prevention
You can’t always prevent erectile dysfunction, but you can reduce your risk for ED with these steps:
Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle
Eat a balanced diet, exercise and achieve a healthy weight. Limit alcohol and stop smoking.
Manage Stress
Seek counseling to help alleviate anxiety and address relationship issues.
Approximately
30-50MMen in the United States have ED.
About
70%Of men experience ED by age 70.
Source: National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Definition and Facts for Erectile Dysfunction
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