The defining symptom of erectile dysfunction is the inability to get and keep an erection that is strong enough — and long-lasting enough — for sexual intercourse, according to WebMD.com. Apart from having difficulty getting and/or keeping an erection, another symptom of ED is a noticeable decline in sexual desire.
If erectile problems occur only occasionally, the problem is unlikely to be a serious one, and the symptoms may be traceable to stress, fatigue, overindulgence in alcohol, drug abuse, or a bout of performance anxiety.
For men who still experience morning erections and have no difficulty getting an erection during masturbation but have trouble getting and maintaining an erection for sexual activity with a partner, the ED symptoms in all likelihood are psychological in origin.
Typically, the onset of chronic impotence is gradual and persistent. Roughly 85 to 90 percent of chronic impotence is physiological in nature. To overcome the problem, these physical causes must be addressed. ED drugs enable men with chronic impotence to engage in sexual activity but do not cure the underlying physical causes of this disorder.