On this page Jump to a section
- Key facts
- What does impotent mean?
- Impotence vs infertility: not the same thing
- Why doctors now say erectile dysfunction
- How common is impotence?
- What causes impotence?
- Choose your next step
- How impotence is treated today
- Safety checks before ED medication
- Start an online visit
- Mendoxa plans and prices
- FAQ
- How we wrote this
- Sources and references
Key facts at a glance
- Meaning
- Impotence is another name for erectile dysfunction (ED)NIDDK: definition and facts
- Term change
- A 1992 NIH panel concluded “erectile dysfunction” should replace “impotence”NIH consensus statement · PubMed
- How common
- 30 million to 50 million US men have EDNIDDK: definition and facts
- Not infertility
- Infertility means no pregnancy after at least one year of tryingMedlinePlus: male infertility
- Compounded status
- The Mendoxa compounded tablet is not FDA-approvedFDA compounding Q&A
What does impotent mean?
“Impotent” is the adjective; “impotence” names the condition. Cambridge Dictionary also uses the word for lacking power or ability, so context matters.
For the medical question, use “erectile dysfunction” when asking for help. For symptoms, evaluation and the full range of treatments, start with our complete erectile dysfunction guide. If you want to ask about Mendoxa care, the online visit is the next step: Independent licensed providers assess suitability. Prescription required.
Impotence vs infertility: not the same thing
| Concern | Meaning | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| Trouble with erections | ED concerns getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex. | Describe your erection difficulties to a clinician; see the ED overview. |
| Trouble achieving pregnancy | Male infertility means not getting a partner pregnant after at least one year of trying. | Ask a clinician about a fertility evaluation. |
| A confusing dictionary definition | Cambridge includes both erection difficulties and inability to have children. | Name the specific concern when you seek care. |
Sources: NIDDK: ED definition; MedlinePlus: male infertility; Cambridge: impotent. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
Why doctors now say erectile dysfunction
A 1992 NIH consensus panel recommended replacing “impotence” with “erectile dysfunction.” Its conclusions also recognized embarrassment as a barrier to diagnosis. The conference statement was published in JAMA in 1993.
The modern term identifies the erection problem directly. NIDDK still lists impotence as another name, while noting that it is used less often now.
How common is impotence?
NIDDK estimates 30 million to 50 million US men have ED. The older study below explains why you may see different figures: it counted several degrees of impotence in a specific population, decades ago.
| Source | Who was counted | Published figure |
|---|---|---|
| NIDDK (reviewed October 2024) | Men in the United States | 30 million to 50 million US men (NIDDK) |
| NIDDK (NIH), by age | Men at age 40 and by age 70 | About 40% at age 40; 70% by age 70 (NIDDK) |
| Massachusetts Male Aging Study | Men 40 to 70 near Boston, surveyed 1987–1989 | Minimal, moderate and complete impotence combined: 52% (Feldman et al., J Urol 1994) |
| Massachusetts Male Aging Study, complete impotence | Same group, ages 40 vs 70 | 5% at age 40; 15% at age 70 (Feldman et al., J Urol 1994) |
Sources: NIDDK: definition and facts (Last Reviewed October 2024); PubMed 8254833: Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
These are prevalence figures, not treatment success rates. They do not predict your response to a medicine. For how the cause affects recovery, read can ED be reversed?.
What causes impotence?
NIDDK lists physical conditions, emotional factors, medicines and lifestyle among possible contributors. Use these links to prepare questions for your visit.
| Cause | What the NIH source says | Mendoxa guide |
|---|---|---|
| High blood pressure | Listed under heart and blood vessel diseases (NIDDK) | ED and blood pressure |
| Blood pressure medicines | Some blood pressure medicines are linked to ED (MedlinePlus); review the specific medicine with your clinician (MedlinePlus) | Lisinopril and ED; lisinopril label |
| Diabetes | Listed among conditions that can lead to ED (NIDDK) | ED and diabetes |
| Low testosterone | “hormone issues, such as low testosterone” (NIDDK) | Low testosterone and ED |
| Anxiety or stress | Mental or emotional issues can cause ED or make it worse (NIDDK) | Performance anxiety and ED |
| Alcohol | “drinking too much alcohol” is a listed lifestyle factor (NIDDK) | ED and alcohol |
Sources: NIDDK: symptoms and causes (Last Reviewed October 2024); MedlinePlus: erection problems. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
Do not stop a prescribed medicine on your own; NIDDK advises talking with your health care professional first (NIDDK treatment).
What each path includes
Choose by the question you need answered. If your concern is erections, you can start by requesting an ED assessment online; a clinician can decide whether further evaluation is needed.
| Your question | What the path includes | Where to begin |
|---|---|---|
| “Is this ED, and what could be causing it?” | An ED evaluation can include medical, sexual and mental health history, an examination and tests. | Read the ED overview and discuss your symptoms with a clinician. |
| “Could Mendoxa care fit me?” | An online intake assessed by Independent licensed providers; Prescription required. The compounded tablet is not FDA-approved. | Use the Mendoxa visit button below; learn about online ED prescriptions. |
| “Which treatments should I discuss?” | A discussion of treatment options and your health history. | Use our ED medications guide to prepare questions. |
| “Why are we not achieving pregnancy?” | A fertility evaluation addresses the pregnancy concern. | Ask your clinician about male infertility. |
Sources: NIDDK: ED diagnosis; NIDDK: ED treatment; MedlinePlus: male infertility; FDA compounding Q&A; Mendoxa care information. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
Could Mendoxa ED care fit you?
Online ED visit · Prescription required · Independent licensed providers · Not available in California
How impotence is treated today
The Viagra (sildenafil) label and Cialis (tadalafil) label list erectile dysfunction as an approved indication. Sexual stimulation is required for their effect, according to the sildenafil label and tadalafil label.
NIDDK also lists lifestyle changes, counseling, vacuum devices, injections and surgery among treatment approaches. Explore ED medications or the full ED overview for details.
Safety checks before ED medication
- Sildenafil and tadalafil are contraindicated with organic nitrates or riociguat (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
- An erection lasting more than 4 hours needs immediate medical care (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
- Stop and seek care for sudden vision loss or sudden decrease or loss of hearing (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
- Common adverse effects include headache and flushing with sildenafil, and headache, indigestion and back pain with tadalafil (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label).
- The APOKYN (apomorphine) label contraindicates use with 5HT3 antagonists such as ondansetron and warns about nausea and fainting.
Give the prescriber your full medicine list. See ED medication and nitrates for more detail.
Start with an online ED visit
You do not need to settle on the right medical term before asking for help. Describe what happens when you try to get or keep an erection, and ask whether Mendoxa care fits your needs. Independent licensed providers assess suitability. Prescription required.
The tablet combines sildenafil, tadalafil and apomorphine; it is not FDA-approved. Ingredient references are the Viagra (sildenafil) label, Cialis (tadalafil) label and APOKYN (apomorphine) label; APOKYN is an injectable Parkinson’s treatment, and its label is not approval of this ED combination.
Have your symptom history, current medicines and previous treatments ready. For what happens next, read how an online ED prescription works. The available quantities and costs are shown below.
Mendoxa ED plans and prices
The Mendoxa ED tablet is a compounded rapid-dissolve tablet with sildenafil (the active ingredient in Viagra), tadalafil (the active ingredient in Cialis) and apomorphine (APOKYN label). It dissolves under the tongue. A licensed clinician decides if it fits you and selects the strength. Compounded medicines are not FDA-approved.
| Tablets per month | 1-month total | Per tablet (1 month) | 3-month total | Per tablet (3 months) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 tablets / month | $129 | $21.50 | $329 | $18.28 |
| 10 tablets / month | $149 | $14.90 | $379 | $12.63 |
| 20 tablets / month | $179 | $8.95 | $449 | $7.48 |
The 3-month total covers three months at the monthly tablet quantity shown.
If prescribed · Cancel anytime · Available in 49 states (not California). Prices from the Mendoxa intake at try.mendoxa.co/f/ed on Oct 22, 2026. The intake always shows the current price.
FAQ
Is impotence the same as erectile dysfunction?
Yes. NIDDK says ED “is sometimes called impotence, but this term is not used as much now.” Both describe trouble getting or keeping an erection firm enough for sex.
Does impotent mean infertile?
Some dictionaries list that sense (Cambridge), but medically they are different. Infertility means not getting a partner pregnant after at least a year of trying (MedlinePlus); ED is about erections (NIDDK).
Is impotence still a medical term?
You may still encounter it, but “erectile dysfunction” is the preferred term in the 1992 NIH consensus statement. NIDDK says impotence is used less often now.
Can a man with impotence still get an erection?
Yes. ED can involve getting an erection sometimes but not consistently, or losing it before sex is finished; it does not always mean never getting an erection (NIDDK symptoms). Describe the pattern when you request care.
Can impotence be treated?
Treatment can address the underlying cause when possible; options include counseling, lifestyle changes, medicines and devices (NIDDK). Sildenafil and tadalafil need sexual stimulation and are contraindicated with nitrates (Viagra (sildenafil) label; Cialis (tadalafil) label). See can ED be reversed?
Can I get impotence treatment online?
Yes, if a licensed clinician finds it suitable. Mendoxa’s 3-in-1 compounded tablet is not FDA-approved; Independent licensed providers assess your intake. Prescription required. Read about the online ED prescription process.
Ready to see if the Mendoxa ED tablet fits you?
From $129/month if prescribed · Cancel anytime · Available in 49 states (not California)
How we wrote this
Written by the Mendoxa editorial team · Sources: DailyMed/FDA. Medical facts on this page come from the FDA-approved labels on DailyMed and Drugs@FDA; each drug name links to its label. Sources were checked on Oct 22, 2026. The prevalence table separates NIDDK estimates from the historical Massachusetts Male Aging Study; neither describes treatment success. Terminology history uses the NIH consensus abstract and its JAMA publication record. Drug safety statements link to the named ingredient labels, which do not establish approval of the Mendoxa combination.
Updated Oct 22, 2026. This page is general information, not medical advice. A licensed clinician decides what fits you.
References
- DailyMed: VIAGRA (sildenafil citrate) tablet, film coated, label revised 12/2017. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- DailyMed: CIALIS (tadalafil) tablet, film coated, label revised 3/2026. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- DailyMed: APOKYN (apomorphine hydrochloride) injection, label revised 6/2022. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- FDA (Drugs@FDA): VIAGRA (sildenafil) prescribing information, NDA 020895. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- FDA (Drugs@FDA): CIALIS (tadalafil) prescribing information, NDA 021368. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- FDA: Compounding and the FDA, questions and answers. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- NIDDK: erectile dysfunction definition and facts. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- NIDDK: symptoms and causes of ED. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- NIDDK: treatment for ED. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- MedlinePlus: erection problems. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- MedlinePlus: male infertility. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- PubMed 1307265: NIH Consensus Statement, Impotence (1992). Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- PubMed 8254833: Massachusetts Male Aging Study (J Urol 1994). Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- Cambridge Dictionary: impotent. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- NIH Consensus Conference: Impotence, JAMA 1993. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- NIDDK: diagnosis of ED. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- DailyMed: lisinopril label. Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- Mendoxa ED care (product, format, max 1 dose per 24 hours). Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
- Mendoxa ED intake: plan prices (term_options). Accessed Oct 22, 2026.
About Mendoxa
Mendoxa (mendoxa.co) is a US telehealth brand. Independent licensed providers (licensed clinicians in the LocumTele network) review each online visit, and prescriptions are filled by Rush Pharmacy, a licensed US pharmacy. Available in 49 states (not California).
- Prescription required. A licensed clinician reviews every visit and can say no. A prescription is not automatic.
- A compounded medicine is not an FDA-approved finished product (FDA compounding Q&A).
- Plans: 1 month or 3 months, from $129. If prescribed · Cancel anytime · Available in 49 states (not California).
Compounded medication prescribed only if a licensed U.S. clinician decides it is appropriate. Not FDA-approved as a finished product. Not available in California. This site is not for emergencies. Call 911 if you need urgent care.