Is ED the same as impotence?
Impotence is an older term. Erectile dysfunction or ED is the modern medical term.
Why it can happen
Common contributors include diabetes, blood-vessel disease, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, hormone problems, nerve injury, certain medications, depression, anxiety and relationship stress.
Can ED go away?
Sometimes it improves when an underlying factor is treated—such as a medication side effect, smoking, stress, uncontrolled diabetes or another health condition. In other cases, ongoing ED treatment is needed.
What if I still have desire?
Strong sexual desire does not rule out ED. Sildenafil, for example, improves erectile response during sexual stimulation but does not increase sexual desire. That is why it helps to separate “I want sex but my erection is unreliable” from “my desire itself is low.”