Millions of men throughout the world are afflicted by erectile dysfunction (ED). Not just an inevitable part of the aging process, ED commonly is the result of some other illness such as diabetes mellitus or hypertension. Although never life-threatening in the usual sense of being fatal, ED may have major effects on quality of life by causing consi

Introduction. Anatomy. Arterial blood supply. Venous drainage. Lymphatic drainage. Neuroanatomy. Central nervous system connections. Mechanisms of erection: Regulation of intracavernosal smooth muscle contractility. Adrenergic vascoconstrictor mechanisms. Cholinergic mechanisms. Noradrenergic non-cholinergic mechanisms. Endothelial mechanisms. Hemodynamics of erection. Orgasm and ejaculation. Pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction: Vasculogenic causes. Neurogenic causes. Endocrinological causes. Priapism and postpriapism. Psychogenic causes. Epidemiology of erectile dysfunction. Risk factors for erectile dysfunction: Diabetes mellitus. Hypertension. Hyperlipidemia. Smoking. Peyronie's disease. Previous surgery. Depression. Diagnosis of erectile dysfunction: History. Physical examination. Special investigations. Treatment options for erectile dysfunction: Psychosexual counseling. Medical therapies. Vacuum devices. Surgical therapies. Conclusions. Bibliography. Appendix