QUESTION
I have trouble getting an erection when I need one. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

ANSWER
Male impotence or what the pharmaceutical industry coined "erectile dysfunction" is a common problem. Impotence every once in a while may be normal and due to stress, excess alcohol or side effects of some medications. Regular impotence, however, is often a sign of a medical problem due to poor blood flow to the penis. Like other blood vessels in the body, blood vessels in the penis can become clogged or blocked. Fortunately, there are excellent and safe medications (Cialis, Levitra and Viagra are the brand names) that work for many men to increase blood flow from clogged arteries and enable a normal erection.

Men with impotence should see their doctor to find out the likely cause of the problem and discuss what treatments might be best. If the problem is psychological—for example, being able to get an erection during porn or spontaneously at night but not when around a partner—your doctor may be able to refer you to a therapist or counselor.

Finally, there is no such thing in 2009 as "generic Viagra", "herbal Viagra" or any non-prescription medication that has been proven to help impotence. Don’t be fooled by clever or persistent advertising. Prescribed medications for impotence can interact with other medications so persons should only get those medications from their doctor:

See a similar question: http://www.sfcityclinic.org/drk/menshealth14.asp.

To your health,
Dr. K