Today, I’m going to share three evidence-based facts about erectile dysfunction that EVERY ADULT should know. These facts are based on dozens of medical studies in Urology and Reproductive Medicine I’ve learned from over the decades. The results of these studies can completely shift your attitude about ED — something that is long overdue in our culture.
We should all learn to normalize ED and other so-called ‘dysfunctions.’ They aren’t rare. They aren’t ‘abnormal.’ ED is, for the most part, a normal phenomenon in male sex life, and most especially as men age. Treating it as a disease or a failure on the man’s part is a myth and quackery. It has nothing to do with the facts and truths we’ve discovered from 21st-century medical research.
Three Facts About ED
Fact #1: ED Affects Over 52% of Men Ages 40 to 70
We don’t talk about it openly, but ED is more common than most “common” problems. In fact, more than half of all men experience erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. As they age, those percentages climb even higher.
Yet we won’t discuss it publicly because of shame.
Consider the shame a person feels for not fitting a stereotype. Then there’s the absolute horror when a disappointed partner mocks them. Finally, there’s the trauma in their heads that convinces them they’re a sexless creature doomed to be alone.
According to the Massachusetts Male Aging Study published in the Journal of Urology (1994) “The combined prevalence of minimal, moderate and complete impotence was 52% in men ages 40-70. Complete impotence tripled from 5% to 15% between ages 40 and 70.”
ED is not abnormal! Our growing understanding and expanded treatment options for ED prove that it’s a common disorder that health professionals can often correct.
Unfortunately, self-destructive shame can trap men in the cycle of ED. They clam up and won’t talk about it, much less seek help. We need to talk more openly about normality in sex. We need to bring couples closer together, not push them apart with toxic walls of silence around common sex problems they don’t even realize are common.
Fact #2: Erections Depend on Smooth Muscle Relaxation
Understanding the physiology of erections changes everything about treating ED.
Specifically, urologist Dr. Rachel Rubin explains this in her 2023 article “Don’t Call Them Private Parts.” According to Dr. Rubin, the penis contains smooth muscle tissue that lines the blood vessels. Importantly, this smooth muscle “responds to fight or flight. It’s on the autonomic nervous system.”
She continues: “If the muscle of the penis is relaxed, it fills with blood and expands. It gets big and hard, and it traps the blood. However, when the muscles of the penis are contracted, when they are tight, it squeezes out all the blood, like squeezing out a sponge. Therefore, if you want good erections, you need to get the muscles to relax.”
Fact #3: Many ED Cases Are Situational or Psychogenic—And Fixable
Here’s the hopeful truth: approximately 40% of all ED cases stem from psychogenic (psychological) causes (Wardhana et al., 2021). Notably, stress and shame lead the list of triggers. Additionally, many more cases are situational (depending on circumstances). Those tend to be episodic, often triggered by some specific factor. Psychogenic and Situational ED can be successfully treated with counseling or therapy.
In contrast, Organic ED refers to an underlying health cause, such as low testosterone levels, taking prescribed medications, and many other organic issues. Because there are numerous organic causes behind ED, there are numerous types of Organic ED. Only a physician can diagnose and successfully treat them.
Knowing the fundamental difference between Psychogenic, Situational, and Organic ED helps all sexually active adults. Moreover, the earlier you figure out which kind you have, the easier fixing it becomes.
The Path Forward
Overall, the three facts above create a 3-point roadmap for successfully treating ED.
First, find someone who will normalize ED with you. Second, get to the root of the problem and you are on your way to a solution. Finally, trust the treatment plan! It takes work but IT WORKS.
Remember: you’re not broken. Furthermore, you’re not less of a man. Stop letting shame keep you stuck in despair. Solutions are available.
RESOURCES:
Feldman HA, Goldstein I, Hatzichristou DG, Krane RJ, McKinlay JB. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. Journal of Urology. 1994;151(1):54-61. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8254833/
Rubin RS. Don’t Call Them ‘Private Parts.’ MDedge Family Medicine. 2023. https://www.mdedge.com/familymedicine/article/265321/womens-health/dont-call-them-private-parts
Wardhana D, et al. Comprehensive Intersystemic Assessment Approach to Relieve Psychogenic Erectile Dysfunction: A Review. Open Access Macedonian Journal of Medical Sciences. 2021 May 22. https://oamjms.eu/index.php/mjms/article/view/6116
Photo Credit: Viktor Forgacs @ https://unsplash.com/@sonance
