Erectile dysfunction for the family physician

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a relatively important issue in men’s health that warrants further discussion and consideration amongst primary care physicians. While it was originally believed that the underlying mechanism of ED was more psychogenic in nature, over the last 40 years such thinking has been abandoned in favor of investigating underlying organic causes as the primary contributor. The causes of ED are varied and it is clear that there are a multitude of medical comorbidities that contribute to it, including diabetes, hypertension, vascular disease, chronic kidney disease, etc. More candid conversations need to be had between primary care physicians and their male patients regarding symptoms of ED, especially after the age of 40.