Blood Vessels and Erection Problems
Because an erection is caused by the penis filling with blood,
problems with the blood vessels may result in
erection problems (erectile dysfunction). These
problems include:
- Hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in the penile arteries, which may
block blood flow into the penis or into the arteries that fill the penile
arteries.
- Side effects of medicines that affect the blood vessels
(such as some diuretics or other
high blood pressure medicines), which may interfere
with the filling process.
- Leaking of blood from the spongy chambers
(corpora cavernosa) in the penis to the veins that carry blood from the penis.
This may lead to the inability to keep an erection.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
| Primary Medical Reviewer | E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine |
| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology |
| Last Revised | May 14, 2012 |