Erectile dysfunction is when a man has difficulty completing sexual intercourse because his penis cannot get an erection of sufficient hardness, or cannot maintain a sustained erection. In other words, you either can’t get an erection, or even if you do get an erection, you insert it into the vagina, but then cave in again without a word during sex. In fact, it is quite common for adult men to have experienced this. If the erectile dysfunction occurs only occasionally, also known as episodic erectile dysfunction, generally no need to panic. In a man’s life, most people will encounter this or that occasional occurrence of erectile difficulties during sexual intercourse. This is a natural and common phenomenon, except for individuals who have been examined for organic lesions, and the outcome depends on how men view this phenomenon. Most men can look at it calmly and accept the fact that they will not be harmed and will return to normal quickly, and their wives will not even have time to worry about it before it naturally fades away. However, if erection problems occur during more than a quarter of your sex life, that’s a serious problem that requires close attention to be sure. Take the facts for what they are When you have occasional erectile dysfunction, don’t get nervous yet; if there is a normal morning erection, then it is highly likely to be due to a psychological problem. Physical or psychological factors Many factors can cause occasional erectile dysfunction. The source of the problem may come from physical factors or from psychological factors. Physical factors simply refer to certain physical illnesses, or some condition that can affect the penis; psychological factors are mainly those psychological problems that can affect your ability to get or maintain an erection. Physical causes Your brain, hormones, nerves and blood vessels make up a team that works together to help you achieve a perfect erection. A problem with any member of this team can have an effect on erections. Some diseases that adversely affect the brain, such as Parkinson’s disease, can cause episodic erectile dysfunction. Diabetes often damages blood vessels, which in turn affects erections. Coronary artery disease can likewise damage the blood vessels leading to the penis. Doctors can only find the real cause of erectile problems through systematic means of examination. Psychological and Behavioral Causes Studies have found that stress, anxiety and depressive symptoms are the primary causes of temporary erectile dysfunction. Illicit drugs such as cocaine and heroin often cause erectile problems. In addition, overuse of some legal drugs such as sleeping pills, painkillers and cold medications can sometimes negatively affect penile erection. Treatment Episodic erectile dysfunction often resolves without a cure. However, it would be more beneficial to take some active measures to change your dilemma as soon as possible. Exercise, reflection, and professional counseling can help you address your psychological problems. Changes in lifestyle habits, such as avoiding overuse of medication, can also help alleviate the condition. If the occurrence of erection problems starts to become more frequent, then you should see a specialist as soon as possible to receive the necessary specialist tests.