Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the inability to get, or keep, an erection. When you are aroused, nerve signals are sent to the base of the penis, which relaxes the arteries and allows more blood to flow in – this causes it to expand and harden. Anything affecting nerve transition, or blood flow, can prevent the penis from becoming, and staying, hard.
Without a firm erection, satisfactory sex is not possible, and though it’s considered by some to be too embarrassing to talk about, most men will suffer from this at some point in their life. In fact, it’s incredibly common in men over 40. But it’s not just confined to older generations, and lots of younger men are also grappling with the same problem.