In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure).
Emotional stress caused by anything from financial problems, to relationship issues and anything in between can lead to erectile dysfunction. When you’re under stress, your body undergoes physiological changes that can hinder the ability to get an erection and may make it hard to keep an erection.