Also called: ED · Impotence
Important: This page is general information, not medical advice. It does not recommend or prescribe any treatment. Always consult your doctor or pharmacist before starting, stopping or changing any medicine.
About Erectile Dysfunction
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.
It sits within Older Adults, Men, Sexual Health Issues and Male Reproductive System.
The lead U.S. institute for this subject is the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
When to speak to someone. Reading about a topic cannot tell you whether it applies to you. Speak to a doctor or pharmacist if symptoms are severe, sudden, getting worse, or simply not going away — and seek emergency care immediately for chest pain, breathing difficulty, sudden weakness or confusion, or a serious allergic reaction.
Research on Erectile Dysfunction
728 studies areregistered for this condition on ClinicalTrials.gov, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's public registry. A selection is below — the links go straight to the registry entry, not to a summary of ours.
What a registered study does and does not mean. Registration means a study exists and has been declared publicly. It says nothing about whether the treatment being tested works, is safe, or is available to you. Many studies find no benefit — that is what research is for. Never seek out an experimental treatment on the strength of a registry entry alone.
Research currently under way
- Treatment With Peripheral Nerve Stimulation of the Pudendal Nerve in Patients With Erectile DysfunctionCamilo Jose Cela University
- Efficacy of Low-dose Percutaneous Electrical Stimulation in Patients With Erectile Dysfunction.Camilo Jose Cela University
- A Study to Assess the Safety, Tolerability and Pharmacokinetics of Viaca (Sildenafil + Cabergoline) Compared With Sildenafil and CabergolineYanping Kong
- Effect of Testofen on Erectile Function in an Adult Male PopulationRDC Clinical Pty Ltd
- Irrisept vs Traditional Antibiotic Irrigation for Virgin Penile Prosthesis PlacementRush University Medical Center
- The Impact of Dietary Pattern on Erectile FunctionMontefiore Medical Center
Research already completed
- Effect of Different Dosing Regimens of Tadalafil or Tamsulosin Combined With 5α-Reductase Inhibitors on Urinary and Sexual Outcomes in Benign Prostatic HyperplasiaBeni-Suef University
- Actual Use Trial of Tadalafil 5 mgSanofi
- Efficacy and Safety Study of Tunodafil Hydrochloride Tablets in Erectile DysfunctionYangtze River Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd.
Study data from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Retrieved 2026-07-30. Registry entries are supplied by study sponsors and investigators; ClinicalTrials.gov does not verify their scientific validity. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH.
Where to read more
Rather than paraphrase, we point you to the primary sources. Every link below is to a government health agency, a national institute or a recognised medical body — grouped by what you are trying to find out.
Start Here
- Erectile DysfunctionMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED)National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
- Erectile Dysfunction (ED)American Academy of Family Physicians
Diagnosis and Tests
- Testosterone Levels TestNational Library of Medicine
Treatments and Therapies
- Dietary Supplements for Erectile Dysfunction: A Natural Treatment for ED?Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Erectile Dysfunction: Viagra and Other Oral MedicationsMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Kegel Exercises for Men: Understand the BenefitsMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Penile ImplantsMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Penis PumpMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Testosterone Therapy: Potential Benefits and Risks as You AgeMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- YohimbeNational Center for Complementary and Integrative Health
Living With
- 5 natural ways to overcome erectile dysfunctionHarvard Medical School
Related Issues
- Cardiovascular Implications of Erectile DysfunctionAmerican Heart Association
- Erectile Dysfunction and Diabetes: Take Control TodayMayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- Erectile Dysfunction: A Sign of Heart Disease?Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
- How Cancer Can Affect ErectionsAmerican Cancer Society
- Hypogonadism in MenEndocrine Society
Clinical Trials
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Erectile DysfunctionNational Institutes of Health
- ClinicalTrials.gov: ImpotenceNational Institutes of Health
Medical subject headings
Clinicians and researchers index this subject under Erectile Dysfunction. These are the terms to use when searching medical literature.
This page is built from the MedlinePlus health topic record for Erectile Dysfunction, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM), National Institutes of Health. Information is from MedlinePlus.gov. PocketsInfo is not affiliated with, and is not endorsed by, the NLM or the NIH. Retrieved 30 July 2026.