When male potency gets affected, it leads to a condition called erectile dysfunction, or impotence. It is defined as the ‘inability to achieve or sustain an erection for satisfactory sexual activity.’ This condition can affect men of all ages, but is more common in older men. Also, it can vary in severity in men, mostly depending on the cause of the condition. Male potency can be affected by a number of factors. Some of them are:

Aging: Studies have found that the risk of impotency rises with age. One of the reasons is that with age men are more prone to diseases that can lead to impotency as a side effect. On the other hand, tissues in the corpora cavernosa also get weakened by age and can lead to erectile dysfunction.

High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure, or hypertension, leads to decrease in the production of nitric oxide by the arteries. When a person suffers from high blood pressure, the heart is not the only organ to get affected. The arteries in the penis also get affected and produce decreased amounts of nitric oxide which results in erectile dysfunction.

Diabetes: Daibetes is one of the most common causes of erectile dysfunction. Male potency gets affected at least 10 to 15 years early in the case of diabetic men compared to normal men. One of the reasons for this is that when a person is affected by diabetes, it leads to atherosclerosis which narrows the all the arteries in the body, thereby reducing the delivery of blood to the penis. Decreased supply of blood flow in the penis leads to impotency. On the other hand, Diabetic patients also suffer from diabetic neuropathy, which implies damage to the sensory and autonomic nerves. This sensory loss can also lead to erectile dysfunction.

Low testosterone levels: Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in men. Decrease in the level of testosterone in the body, not only leads to reduced sex drive, but it also leads to reduced levels of nitric oxide on the body, which leads to erectile dysfunction.

Medication: A number of common medications can cause erectile dysfunction as a side effect. Many medications like antihistamines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and appetite suppressants are likely to cause erectile dysfunction. On the other hand, medication used for the treatment of heart diseases, high blood pressure and diabetes can also cause problems with male potency.

Smoking: Smoking cigarettes regularly can lead to atherosclerosis, which narrows arteries and reduces blood flow to various organs of the body. Regular smoking over a prolonged period of time can aggravate atherosclerosis, which can lead to erectile dysfunction.

Substance Abuse: Abuse of controlled substances like cocaine, heroin and even marijuana can cause damage to nerve ending leading to erectile dysfunction. It can also lead to lower testosterone levels and atrophy of the genitals which can lead to impotence.

Psychological Factors: There are a number of psychological factors that also affect male potency and their ability to achieve and sustain an erection. Factors like depression, stress, anxiety, guilt, low self esteem, performance anxiety, etc. can all lead to erectile dysfunction of varying severity.