---
title: "Definition of Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence | Sutter Health"
description: "What is the difference between erectile dysfunction and impotence?"
url: "/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101"
---

1.  Home /
2.  Definition of Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence

# Definition of Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence

* * *

Medically reviewed by

-   Rodman S. Rogers, M.D.

## Question

What is the difference between erectile dysfunction and impotence?

## Answer

Impotence is an old-fashioned, non-specific and medically improper term that is no longer used to describe male sexual problems.

The current terminology describing difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection is "erectile dysfunction.

## Explore related topics

Men's healthErectile DysfunctionSexual health and relationships

## Meet our care team

Rodman S. Rogers, M.D.

Urology

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalOrganization","name":"Sutter Health","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org","logo":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/static/images/sutter-health-logo.svg","address":{"@type":"PostalAddress","streetAddress":"2200 River Plaza Drive","addressLocality":"Sacramento","addressRegion":"CA","postalCode":"95833","addressCountry":"US"},"areaServed":{"@type":"AdministrativeArea","name":"California"},"sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/SutterHealth","https://www.instagram.com/sutterhealth/","https://x.com/SutterHealth","https://www.youtube.com/sutterhealth","https://www.linkedin.com/company/sutter-health","https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sutter_Health"]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#breadcrumblist","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Definition of Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence"}]}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"MedicalWebPage","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#medicalwebpage","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101","name":"Definition of Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence","description":"Impotence is an old-fashioned, non-specific and medically improper term that is no longer used to describe male sexual problems.","inLanguage":"en-US","medicalAudience":{"@type":"MedicalAudience","audienceType":"Patient"},"isPartOf":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#breadcrumblist"},"mainEntity":{"@type":"Question","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#question","name":"Definition of Erectile Dysfunction and Impotence","text":"What is the difference between erectile dysfunction and impotence?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#answer","text":"Impotence is an old-fashioned, non-specific and medically improper term that is no longer used to describe male sexual problems. The current terminology describing difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection is \"erectile dysfunction.","url":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101","author":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#expert"}}},"publisher":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/#medicalorganization"},"reviewedBy":{"@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#expert"}}
```

```json
{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"Person","@id":"https://www.sutterhealth.org/ask-an-expert/answers/definition-of-erectile-dysfunction-impotence-1051061101#expert","name":"Rodman S. Rogers","honorificSuffix":"M.D."}
```