Part of getting an erection involves blood vessels in the penis relaxing and widening so that the penis can fill with blood. Any condition that makes your blood vessels less likely to relax and widen can make getting an erection difficult, no matter how much you may want it to happen.
Hardening of the arteries
One condition that impairs blood flow to the penis is hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis), where fat builds up on the inside of blood vessels, making them narrow and more rigid.
Conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels
Other conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels can also indicate that the blood vessels in your body are not as healthy as they once were. These include:
Damage to blood vessels near the penis
Some men may have damage or a blockage in a major blood vessel near the penis, which disrupts the normal process of erection. Sometimes there is a leak in a vein in the penis that makes it difficult to keep an erection for any length of time.
Increased likelihood of erection problems
Having any condition affecting your blood vessels means you could have a higher chance of erection problems. For example:
*Men aged 18–91 presenting to Australian general practices.