{"id":2455,"date":"2018-08-10T03:05:45","date_gmt":"2018-08-10T03:05:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/besthealth.guide\/?p=2455"},"modified":"2021-10-12T05:29:16","modified_gmt":"2021-10-12T05:29:16","slug":"11-not-so-known-facts-about-erectile-dysfunction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/besthealth.guide\/11-not-so-known-facts-about-erectile-dysfunction\/","title":{"rendered":"11 Not-So-Known Facts About Erectile Dysfunction"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition that affects thousands of men all over the world; are you one of them? It\u2019s estimated that there are far more men struggling with erectile dysfunction than the current number that we know about, simply because there\u2019s so much stigma attached to the condition that most men will never admit they suffer from it \u2013 and even in modern times where we have cars that charge with the sun, people still find themselves being unable to talk about erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n

If you are struggling with the condition, make an appointment with your doctor to discuss the underlying cause and possible treatment options \u2013 in most cases, it\u2019s something small and easy to fix, and then you can get right back to living your (sex) life the way you should.
\nDid you know that erectile dysfunction is something that can affect men at any age and that the most common causes of erectile dysfunction are stress, underlying heart conditions, and hormonal changes? Here are 11 not-so-known facts about erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n

1. It\u2019s a real medical condition<\/h3>\n

Erectile dysfunction,<\/a> also commonly referred to as ED, isn\u2019t just something that happens to a guy when he\u2019s had a long day. When it happens regularly during times where it really shouldn\u2019t be happening, then it can be guessed that you\u2019re suffering from erectile dysfunction. It\u2019s a real medical condition that can be diagnosed by a doctor.<\/p>\n

Why is this a good thing? Because once it\u2019s been diagnosed by your doctor, it can also be treated by your doctor, and in most cases, the cause of erectile dysfunction is something minor.<\/p>\n

For a huge portion of men, it\u2019s too embarrassing to mention to their doctors and they hope it will go away on its own. In most cases, it won\u2019t and you aren\u2019t doing yourself any favors by trying to wait until the condition passes. Your best bet is to swallow your pride and make an appointment with a urologist or sexual health specialist. <\/p>\n

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2. Most people never talk about it<\/h3>\n

You should make an appointment with your general health practitioner<\/a> at least once every six months, even when you think you\u2019re healthy enough to skip. The truth is that a general check-up can never hurt your health, and your doctor might even spot something you could have missed in your health routine and do something about it before it turns into a bigger problem.<\/p>\n

Put some thought into what you are going to discuss with your doctor at your next appointment: Six months between appointments will give you more than enough time to think about it first! Make a list if you have any pressing issues, and note any changes in your health or routine and mention these to your doctor.<\/p>\n

And, most importantly, remember that doctors have spent several years in medical school and several years in practice, and they have likely seen everything already. There\u2019s no reason to be afraid of discussing erectile dysfunction with your doctor \u2013 ever.<\/p>\n

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3. It\u2019s difficult to get real statistics on erectile dysfunction<\/h3>\n

Erectile dysfunction is a global problem that affects thousands of men, but it\u2019s difficult to get real statistics on just how many men are really affected by erectile dysfunction every day. You might have already guessed why this is by yourself: It\u2019s down to the simple fact that people don\u2019t talk about erectile dysfunction and other male sexual health problems as much as they should.<\/p>\n

Sometimes this is because they think the problem will go away, other times they are simply embarrassed by the problem and don\u2019t talk about \u2013 so we don\u2019t have accurately reported statistics on erectile dysfunction just because many men aren\u2019t reporting the problem when it happens to them.<\/p>\n

What you should know about the statistics surrounding erectile dysfunction<\/a> is that more people suffer from the problem than you might think: It can happen to as many as one in every four men, though we can\u2019t be sure.<\/p>\n

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4. It can be caused by stress<\/h3>\n

Most men will spend a huge amount of time obsessing about what the potential cause behind erectile dysfunction could be, and it\u2019s normal for someone to hype themselves up until they think they might be suffering from some horrible, tropical disease \u2013 but you should calm down first. In most cases, the cause of erectile dysfunction is really nothing to be worried about.<\/p>\n

For the majority of men, when it isn\u2019t caused by hormonal imbalances<\/a> in the body, it\u2019s caused by shear stress. Stress can be more than enough to trigger erectile dysfunction, and it could be something in your life that you haven\u2019t even thought about as a stressor.<\/p>\n

Life is full of stress, and it could be just the wrong thought at the wrong time \u2013 something like, \u201cDid I leave the oven on?\u201d or \u201cDid I leave the file open at work before I went home?\u201d \u2013 can be enough to kill the moment.<\/p>\n

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5. Heart problems can also cause erectile dysfunction<\/h3>\n

Erectile dysfunction is caused by stress<\/a> in most cases, but it can also point to problems with circulation or the heart. If you find that your erections are no longer as \u201cvirile\u201d or strong as they used to be, then this is an almost sure sign that your circulation is decreasing \u2013 and this is something that happens normally as we age.<\/p>\n

This doesn\u2019t necessarily point to the fact that you have an underlying heart problem to worry about, but it does mean that you should make an appointment with both a sexual health specialist and a cardiologist to find the root cause of your ED.<\/p>\n

If you are already taking heart medication, then you should note that certain types of heart medications can eventually cause erectile dysfunction too \u2013 and they can even counteract with over-the-counter medications taken for erectile dysfunction. See your doctor before making any serious medical changes in your life.<\/p>\n

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6. Sometimes, medications can cause erectile dysfunction too<\/h3>\n

Make an appointment with your doctor the moment you experience erectile dysfunction \u2013 don\u2019t wait until it becomes a larger, recurring problem. This will only have disastrous consequences for your life and sex life, and it could leave a much larger problem undiagnosed.<\/p>\n

If you have recently started taking any kind of medication<\/a>, then you should read the package insert that comes with the medication: Look for side-effects and contraindications. These sections will tell you which side-effects have been experienced with the medication, from the most common to the rarest ones.<\/p>\n

If erectile dysfunction, heart problems, or circulatory issues are listed as any of the contraindications or side-effects, make an appointment with your medical professional and get in touch with the prescribing doctor or dispensing pharmacist you received the medication from.<\/p>\n

In many cases, simply changing the medication to another one recommended by your doctor is enough to fix the problem.<\/p>\n

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7. Hormone changes can cause erectile dysfunction<\/h3>\n

Erectile dysfunction can be caused by more than just heart problems and stress; it can also be caused by any hormonal changes in your body. It\u2019s natural for the hormones in the body to fluctuate as you age, and there are plenty of things that can cause a rise or drop in the levels of certain hormones in your body \u2013 these things include the foods you eat and the medications that you take; genetic<\/a> factors also matter here.<\/p>\n

Hormonal changes can be a common cause for erectile dysfunction, and is one of the most common causes of ED amongst people who are \u2013 most men notice the strength of their erections declining at least somewhat once they hit their forties, fifties or sixties.<\/p>\n

Even if you don\u2019t fall under those age groups, it could still be down to hormones in your body, triggered by external factors instead of by age. Make an appointment with an endocrinologist if you suspect that this might be the case: A simple blood test is enough.<\/p>\n

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8. There are plenty of myths surrounding erectile dysfunction<\/h3>\n

There are those who aren\u2019t shy about their sexual health, then there are those who don\u2019t talk about their sexual health at all \u2013 and then there are people who talk a load of nonsense about their sexual health and\/or sex<\/a> lives. You want to always be the first, and never the last. Decades upon decades of this has given us more myths about erectile dysfunction than we could shake an erection at.<\/p>\n

Just some of these myths include that erectile dysfunction doesn\u2019t happen to \u201creal men\u201d, or that erectile dysfunction means that you are gay, straight, or not attracted to your sexual partner. All of these are complete and total BS. Erectile dysfunction means one thing and one thing only: It means that you have erectile dysfunction. Now, what are you going to do about it?<\/p>\n

Discard the myths, and ask your doctor what treatment option would be best for you \u2013 that\u2019s all the information you need. <\/p>\n

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9. Erectile dysfunction can affect you at any age<\/h3>\n

Under which circumstances are people the most comfortable discussing erectile dysfunction? Hint: It\u2019s not in the bedroom, and it\u2019s not in a doctor\u2019s office or hospital. It\u2019s when they\u2019re kidding.<\/p>\n

People who would never say the word \u201cerection\u201d or \u201cprostate<\/a> exam\u201d to their doctor when they\u2019re talking about themselves are often more than happy to joke about the same matters \u2013 sometimes simply because it makes them uncomfortable, so they\u2019d rather joke about it. And there\u2019s nothing like erectile dysfunction jokes about old people, right?<\/p>\n

Well, no. The jokes are working with the premise that erectile dysfunction is something that happens mostly to the elderly, and nothing could be further from the truth. Erectile dysfunction is something that can affect any man at any age \u2013 and it\u2019s not restricted to the elderly by any means, but instead more common in men in their 20s to 40s. Bet you didn\u2019t know that. <\/p>\n

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10. It terrifies most men, though some more than others<\/h3>\n

Erectile dysfunction can be compared to performance anxiety<\/a>, and in some way that\u2019s exactly what it is: You\u2019re expected to perform \u2013 whether we\u2019re talking about a trumpet performance in front of a thousand people at a Jazz festival or sexually \u2013 and the anxiety gets in the way of being able to complete that performance.
\nThis is a terrifying thought to most performers (read: most men!) and a huge part of the reason why erectile dysfunction is not talked about enough.<\/p>\n

But the terror of discussing sexual health goes much further for some men, especially in countries where access to sexual health resources and information is limited: Did you know that in some cultures there exists a genuine fear that another man can steal your sexual prowess from you simply by shaking your hand?
\nThe only way to get myths like this out of the way is to be more open about sexual health in general, and more willing to talk about problems like ED when they happen.<\/p>\n

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11. It can be fixed<\/h3>\n

Erectile dysfunction shouldn\u2019t be thought of as a permanent problem, and this is simply because it isn\u2019t one. As we\u2019ve already said in most of this article, the causes behind erectile dysfunction are simple to diagnose in most cases and equally simple to treat.<\/p>\n

Depending on the cause, your doctor might prescribe some lifestyle<\/a> changes to take off the stress, some diet changes to stay healthier and medication to take care of the rest \u2013 be sure to check in with your doctor at least once every six months to update them on the progress and ask them what their recommendations are for your health forward.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re suffering from erectile dysfunction, you should also be sure to discuss the problem as openly as possible with your partner. There\u2019s nothing embarrassing about being human, either in front of your partners or your medical professionals: When we say doctors have seen everything, we really do mean everything.\r\n

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