Impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED) is very common and occurs in men of all ages. ED means an inability to get a good enough erection to have sexual intercourse. Perhaps the penis is not firm enough to penetrate the partner, perhaps some men manage to penetrate but lose the erection.

For young men the most common cause is anxiety, maybe about having sex, using a condom or worry about causing unwanted pregnancy.

For middle aged men ED can be due to stress, overwork or perhaps bereavement. It could be when the man tries to engage in a new relationship. In a small number of cases the cause can be due to diabetes.

Impotence for the older man becomes more common as age increases. This is mainly due to the blood vessels that carry the blood to the penis deteriorating, although there may, and can be many other causes.

Understanding the problems of impotence requires knowing how an erection occurs. This happens when blood is pumped into the penis making it hard. Usually this happens when his penis is being stimulated, or he is thinking about sex. When this happens signals are sent down the spinal cord to the genitals which instruct the blood vessels in the penis to open up and the organ blows up like a balloon.

If the causes of ED are not psychological as described then they can be physical. The more common physical problems are as follows:

Diabetes.
Alcohol. (Brewers droop)
Smoking. Nicotine is known to narrow the blood vessels.
Obesity.
Recreational drugs. The effects of taking cocaine and other substances.
Medication. Known side effects of some blood pressure and antidepressant drugs.

We can see from the above some of the more common causes of failing or keeping an erection. However research and development by major drug companies such as Lilly ICOS has resulted in the production of Cialis, a drug that enables men to overcome these problems. Cialis can be bought through reputable outlets such as UKMedix and safely used to alleviate the problems of ED.