# What causes erection problems? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 22, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104 "2003-09-22T15:11:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/1 "2003-09-22T15:11:46Z")
Okay I’m thinking (and have read around it) there are two basic answers: 1. Stress 2. Old age But the question is why? I realise that muscle tissue degenerates somewhat during the good old years… but the thing is, Viagra still makes an 80 year old man’s loins jingle (you know what I mean). So what is happening inside the Long John that promotes him to General? I’ve read that nitrogen oxide is at work… and that the penis responds to this chemical by stiffening… do levels of this chemical drop during old age? Is this why men become less stiff? And what the heck does stress do? I mean, the thinking should go that with stress comes greater arousal/sexual excitement. This (at least in the short term) should lead to greater sexual appetite. So why doesn’t it? Please explain. ---
**Author:** ![spogga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ab097/32.png) [@spogga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spogga)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/2 "2003-09-22T15:13:08Z")
1. Excess alcohol ---
**Author:** ![Xavier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/2bfe46/32.png) [@Xavier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xavier)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 3:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/3 "2003-09-22T15:38:04Z")
I wouldn’t put the third on my list - since it’s something that is already unnatural (and foreign) to the human body. The simple way you could prevent alcohol from damaging your erectile capabilities is by not consuming any. ---
**Author:** ![Duderdude2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cdc98d/32.png) [@Duderdude2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duderdude2)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/4 "2003-09-22T16:02:57Z")
How much excess alcohol is excessive? ---
**Author:** ![SPOOFE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c5a1d2/32.png) [@SPOOFE](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SPOOFE)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/5 "2003-09-22T17:23:24Z")
Dear lord in the High Heavens, I saw this thread title as “What causes **election** problems?” I was confused by all the talk of Viagra and jingling loins. “What does that have to do with the electoral process?” I thought. “Surely that would be referring to the '96 election… Bush ain’t that old, and we know Clinton didn’t have any troubles.” Oh well. I need more caffeine. Oh, and cocaine will ruin your stiffy, too. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/6 "2003-09-22T17:46:20Z")
Causes? Diabetes Vascular disease neuropathies, especially those associated with diabetes Multiple Sclerosis testosterone deficiency excess prolactin levels over or underactive thyroid gland Adrenal gland abnormalities. Renal failure Parkinsonism Alzheimer’s Obesity Peyronie’s disease. Those are just the disease states which most commonly cause physiologic impotence. I make no mention here of the multiple drugs, medications, surgeries or activities which can cause it. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/7 "2003-09-22T18:18:31Z")
Many of the above-mentioned disease processes cause erectile dysfunction by working against vascular dilation. Viagra can overcome some of the underlying pathology of some of the above-mentioned diseases, basically by artificially dilating the penile vasculature network, and allowing increased blood flow to the area. ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/8 "2003-09-22T19:34:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Xavier \* > > 1. Stress > 2. Old age You fergot: 1. Marriage. Not that I’ve ever been married, mind you, but that is what I’ve been told by many of those who have been there, done that. They also report that a change of partner (A.K.A. business trip) does wonders for getting the “area” (as Qadgop the Mercotan calls it) ticking again. ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/9 "2003-09-22T20:07:17Z")
I don’t know, this is the first time it happens to me… ---
**Author:** ![sailor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a587f6/32.png) [@sailor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sailor)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2003, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/10 "2003-09-22T21:58:10Z")
It’s _never_ happened to me. I have a very sexy right hand. ---
**Author:** ![bubba\_jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@bubba\_jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bubba_jr)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-causes-erection-problems/203104/11 "2003-09-23T01:45:49Z")
I’d say the biggest problem is people asking questions about erection problems.