Significance

• According to Respondagain.com, there are 150 million cases of erectile dysfunction in the world. The Department of Urology of the University of Miami reveals that erectile dysfunction or impotence affects 10 percent of the overall male population.
  
  

Definition

• Edtreat.com defines erectile dysfunction as the inability to obtain and maintain an erection during sexual intercourse, while impotence is the inability to achieve an erection, orgasm and ejaculation.
  
  Dr. Dennis Lee and his colleagues on Medicinenet.net refer to erectile dysfunction and impotence as one, and define it as the inability to obtain and sustain an erection necessary for sexual intercourse.
  
  

Signs

• For most men, difficulty in obtaining an erection is normal, but if this inability happens 25 percent of the time, it may be considered erectile dysfunction, according to Mayoclinic.com.
  
  

Causes

• Mayoclinic.com explains that psychological issues, health problems and side effects of medication can cause erectile dysfunction or impotence. Psychological causes include anxiety, depression, fatigue and stress, while physical causes may include diabetes, obesity, heart disease, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, high blood pressure or injuries that have affected the spinal cord.
  
  

Prevention/Solution

• Erectile dysfunction or impotence can be successfully treated either through oral or surgical treatments. A doctor specializing in erectile dysfunction can help you identify the kind of treatment that you need. Clevelandclinicmeded.com identifies Viagra, Levitra and Cialis as the three oral medications approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.