Introduction: Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most commonly studied sexual disorder. ED is defined by a consistent or recurrent inability to attain and/or maintain penile erection sufficient for sexual activity.

Methods: Medical literature was reviewed and combined with expert opinion of the authors.

Results: A review of ED prevalence is less than 10% in men aged below 50, superior to 20% for men over 60. Age, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, smoking, depression and psychiatric illness, psychological disorders, unfavorable socio-economic conditions are all risk factors for erectile dysfunction. Drug sexual side-effects must also be envisaged. Erectile dysfunction can be psychogenic, organic or a mix of both. The pathophysiological mechanisms are diverse and can implicate deterioration of the central or peripheral neural pathways, from the arterial supply to the penis, endothelial dysfunction, smooth muscle tone impairment, structural damage of the sinusoidal spaces of the erectile tissue, or even hormonal disorders. Psychological and sexological management can help some patients suffering from psychogenic erectile dysfunction, usually associated with pharmacological treatment. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5i) on demand or daily are an efficient symptomatic treatment in two thirds of patients with all forms of erectile dysfunction. Diabetic patients, after radical prostatectomy and/or with severe cardiovascular diseases respond poorly to PDE5i. Intracavernous injections of PGE1 or vacuum pump provide second line treatment for most patients. Penile implants are third line treatment and when the indication is carefully established give excellent results.

Discussion: ED work-up and treatment are highly standardized. Therapeutic success rates are high.