What are the main signs and symptoms of erectile dysfunction?

Men with ED are unable to achieve an erection when they want to, or can achieve an erection but are not able to sustain the erection long enough for sexual intercourse.

Signs of ED may include the presence of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) — both of which are associated with ED. Other signs of ED may include penile deformities, prostate disease, or hypogonadism (i.e., small testes or alterations in secondary sex characteristics).

Symptoms of organic ED include the consistent inability to achieve or sustain an erection; in organic ED, this inability is often gradual in onset, yet progressive in nature. Symptoms of psychogenic ED include ED that is more intermittent, variable, or situational. Psychogenic ED often has a sudden onset, and men with psychogenic ED tend to have more difficulty sustaining than achieving an erection.^[1]