Many men have nightmares about whether they'll be able to “get it up” in the bedroom and keep their erection to have sex. The prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) increases with age, but the occasional ED is not so uncommon among men of all ages. With up to 30 million American men affected by ED, myths abound when it comes to causes and treatments.

Premature ejaculation (PE) is often confused with ED, but the two are generally treated differently. ED is the inability to obtain or maintain an erection, and is the second most common male sexual dysfunction behind premature ejaculation. Meanwhile, PE happens before or shortly after penetration. Sometimes PE is a problem for men who have erection problems, like ED.

Click “View Slideshow” to separate fact from fiction when it comes to ED.

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Six surprising facts about erectile dysfunction you probably didn't know. Photo courtesy of Reuters