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Erectile dysfunction is defined as the inability to achieve and maintain an erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse.¹ It has been estimated to affect 20 million to 30 million men in the United States.²,³ It may result from psychological, neurologic, hormonal, arterial, or cavernosal impairment or from a combination of these factors. In this article we provide a brief overview of the physiology of erection and the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction, followed by a discussion of drug treatment for the disorder.

Physiology of Penile Erection

Penile erection is a neurovascular event modulated by psychological factors and hormonal status. . . .