Men often approach sex in a very task-oriented and ambitious way. It is precisely the fear of revealing the problem is a common barrier to seeing a sexologist. It is estimated that approximately 70% of men with erectile dysfunction do not seek any help, and only one in ten undergoes treatment under the care of a specialist.
This is a significant problem in light of current medical knowledge, as erectile dysfunction is often anearly symptom of cardiovascular disease increases with age (over 40% of men over 50), this problem also affects a significant portion of the young population (ranging from a few to over a dozen percent among those under 30), causing significant frustration and often hindering the formation or maintenance of relationships.
Although “circulatory” causes are not as common in young people as they are among seniors, and most healthy men experience occasional difficulties achieving an erection, a symptom that recurs during subsequent sexual encounters should not be dismissed or attributed solely to stress. In fact, sexual problems may stem from an unhealthy lifestyle, particularly work-related exhaustion, sleep deprivation, and fear of disappointing one’s partner.
On the other hand, they may be caused by conditions that also affect younger people, such as diabetes, hormonal or neurological disorders, or depressionFor men of all ages, early diagnosis, initiation of treatment, and prevention of the worsening of disorders and further complications are of great importance. For example, a thirty-year-old obese man, burdened by stress and a lack of physical activity, developing hypertension and erectile dysfunction, may already be a “cardiology patient” ten years later, at risk of a heart attack and disability.
If he changes his lifestyle early on, loses weight, and starts taking care of himself, eating well, and exercising regularly, he can halt the progression of the disease. Regardless of the cause of erectile dysfunction, for most patients, medicine offers effective medications available, which, however, should come from a reliable source, namely a pharmacy. A visit to the doctor, a consultation, and basic tests usually allow for the identification of “psychogenic” or “somatic” causes (which may occur together) and determine the appropriate course of action—prevention, pharmacological treatment, psychotherapy, couples therapy, or possibly further, more detailed diagnostics.
