Erectile dysfunction is a symptom worth reporting

Erectile dysfunction is a common type of male sexual dysfunction: trouble
getting or keeping an erection. **It becomes more common as you get older, and
it is not a natural part of ageing.**

That distinction is the whole point of this page. Something that arrives with
age and is not caused by age is a symptom of something else.

Why it is worth telling your doctor

Some people find it hard to talk to a doctor about sex. **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 do not see your doctor, those problems go untreated. The erectile
dysfunction may be the least of what is happening — and it may be the only
part of it you can notice without a test.

What can be done

Your doctor can offer several treatments. **For many men the answer is as
simple as taking a pill.**

Other things that may help:

• Getting more exercise
• Losing weight
• Stopping smoking

All three of those also address clogged blood vessels, which is the
connection running through this entire page.

*Source: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,
via MedlinePlus.*