When a man is sexually excited, the penis rapidly fills with more blood than usual, causing it to expand and harden. This is called an erection. After the act of sex, the extra blood flows out of the penis, and the erection subsides. If an erection lasts for more than 6 hours it can permanently damage your penis. You should call a doctor immediately if you ever have a prolonged erection that lasts more than 4 hours.

Some conditions and medicines interfere with this natural erection process. An erection cannot occur if enough blood does not flow into the penis. This condition is called 'erectile dysfunction' (ED) or impotence, if it becomes a frequent problem.

During sex, the heart works harder. Therefore sexual activity may not be advisable for people who have heart problems. Before starting any treatment for erectile dysfunction, ask the doctor if your heart is healthy enough to handle the extra strain of having sex. If you have chest pains, dizziness or nausea during sex, stop having sex and immediately consult your doctor.

Most men will have an isolated erection problem at some time in their lives, but for others it happens more frequently. If the inability to respond to your partner has become a recurring problem, you may be suffering from a treatable medical condition called erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence.

If you suspect you have ED, there's no need to suffer in silence. You are not alone. It's estimated that about half of all men aged 40 to 70 years in the United States are affected with ED.

Most cases of ED are associated with common medical conditions, some medications used to treat these conditions and certain lifestyle factors like smoking or excessive alcohol consumption. The good news is that erection problems can almost always be treated. One treatment is CAVERTA (sildenafil citrate), a tablet available by prescription.

This site serves as a resource for information on ED and its treatment. For proper diagnosis and treatment, you need to consult your doctor.

In men with ED, the chemical reactions responsible for erections do not take place as usual, thus the arteries in the penis don't expand and the organ cannot fill with blood.

It was once mistakenly believed that ED was either "all in a man's mind" or an unavoidable result of getting older. While it's true that age can be a factor, we now know that the majority of ED cases are associated with physical conditions other than just age.