Physical causes of erectile dysfunction

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At one time, doctors thought erectile dysfunction was primarily caused by psychological issues. But this isn't true. While thoughts and emotions always play a role in getting an erection, erectile dysfunction is usually caused by something physical, such as a chronic health problem or the side effects of a medication. Sometimes a combination of things causes erectile dysfunction.

Common causes of erectile dysfunction include:

Heart disease
Clogged blood vessels (atherosclerosis)
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Obesity
Metabolic syndrome
Other causes of erectile dysfunction include:

Certain prescription medications
Tobacco use
Alcoholism and other forms of drug abuse
Treatments for prostate cancer
Parkinson's disease
Multiple sclerosis
Hormonal disorders such as low testosterone (hypogonadism)
Peyronie's disease
Surgeries or injuries that affect the pelvic area or spinal cord
In some cases, erectile dysfunction is one of the first signs of an underlying medical problem.

Psychological causes of erectile dysfunction
The brain plays a key role in triggering the series of physical events that cause an erection, beginning with feelings of sexual excitement. A number of things can interfere with sexual feelings and lead to — or worsen — erectile dysfunction. These can include:

Depression
Anxiety
Stress
Fatigue
Poor communication or conflict with your partner
The physical and psychological causes of erectile dysfunction interact. For instance, a minor physical problem that slows sexual response may cause anxiety about maintaining an erection. The resulting anxiety can worsen erectile dysfunction.