What Are the Causes of Occasional Erectile Dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction occurs when you are unable to get or keep an erection that is hard enough for sexual intercourse. You either cannot get an erection, or you lose it in the middle of intercourse. It's common for adult men to experience erection problems. Occasional erectile dysfunction is generally no cause for alarm. The MedLine Plus website states erection problems may be serious if you have them more than 25 percent of the time.

Fact

• If you have morning erections, your erectile dysfunction is probably caused by a psychological problem.

Physical or Psychological

• A number of things cause occasional erectile dysfunction. The source of the problem might be physical or psychological. A physical problem stems from an illness or other condition that is affecting your penis. A psychological problem stems from a mental issue that is affecting your ability to get or keep an erection.

Bodily Causes

• Your brain, hormones, nerves and blood vessels work as a team to help you achieve an erection. The process will be disrupted if one of the components isn't functioning properly. Disorders that negatively affect the brain, such as Parkinson's disease, can cause occasional erectile dysfunction. Diabetes often damages blood vessels, which can in turn affect the penis. Coronary artery disease can also affect the blood vessels leading to the penis. A medical examination is the only way to tell if an underlying medical condition is causing your problem.

Mental and Behavioral Causes

• The Erectile Dysfunction Information Center website states that stress, anxiety and depression are leading causes of temporary erectile dysfunction. Illegal drugs such as cocaine and heroin commonly cause erection problems. Legal drugs, such as over-the-counter sleeping aids, pain killers and cold remedies also can have a negative effect on the penis.

Treatment

• Occasional erectile dysfunction often goes away without any treatment. However, there are steps you can take to improve the situation. Exercise, meditation or professional counseling might help you deal with an emotional problem. Lifestyle changes such as not using heavy drugs might also help the situation. If the problem begins to happen more frequently, you should visit your doctor for a medical exam.