性功能障礙可能具有多種多樣的病因，而且不可能分清是生理的病因所起的作用大還是精神的病因所起的作用大。（臨床普通科室的）醫生傾向於過高估計純生理病因的作用，而精神病醫生傾向於過高估計精神病因的重要性。極為常見的是，兩類病因都在性功能障礙中起著作用。無論如何，始終首先要謹慎地處理好可能的生理方面的致病原因，這類病因處理也比較容易。

Sexual dysfunctions can have a variety of causes, and it is impossible to say whether physical or psychosocial causes play a greater role. Physicians tend to overestimate the role of purely physical causes, while psychotherapists overestimate the importance of psychosocial causes. Very often, both kinds of causes contribute to the problem. In any case, it is always prudent - and easier - to deal with the possible physical causes first.