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Men's Sexual Health

Silence That Could Kill: Many Men Don't Discuss ED

Erectile dysfunction is one of the most common male health conditions, with millions of sufferers around the world. Tons of research proves that it can affect other aspects of a man's health. Yet, many men choose to remain silent about their ED symptoms. While it's common for men to hide their symptoms from family and friends, the fact that they conceal their symptoms from their physician is a matter of great concern.

Erectile dysfunction is commonly discussed in the media, and is not the incurable and embarrassing condition that it once used to be. The explosion of the anti impotence drug market that includes super brands like, Viagra, Cialis and Levitra have brought erectile dysfunction, its symptoms and treatment into the public eye. Reams of news print have been devoted to it, and sexual health is commonly discussed on television and radio talk shows. Even with all this mass information, a recent survey has found that many men are still reluctant to talk about erectile dysfunction. It is this hesitation in informing a doctor about any symptoms of ED that is causing American physicians a lot of worry.

The survey revealed that 38% of the men who suffer from erectile dysfunction have never spoken to their doctor about it. This amounts to a large percentage of men who are concealing a very important medical symptom from their doctors. Doctors worry that by hiding this vital piece of information, men could be keeping their doctors from getting to the root of other more serious and even life threatening health problems. ED is not just an indicator of a man's sexual health, but can also be a symptom of other hidden conditions.

Research has shown that the symptoms of ED can be a precursor for deadly conditions, like heart attacks and diabetes. Men who suffer from ED could actually be suffering from other forms of cardiovascular disease including strokes. In fact, there is research to indicate that erectile dysfunction can be a warning sign of heart attacks that can occur at least 3 years before the person suffers from a cardiac arrest. So, if a man informs his doctor about his ED symptoms, the doctor could conduct more extensive testing to look for any other hidden medical conditions, like heart disease. If a heart condition is present, the doctor can immediately place the person on treatment for his heart condition, minimizing the risk of a heart attack in the future.

Talking about erectile dysfunction is therefore not just important, but could also actually save your life. According to medical experts, men who are in their middle age, are overweight, don't exercise regularly and smoke are more at risk from ED. Low testosterone is commonly found in men who have abdominal obesity, men who suffer from metabolic syndrome or diabetes. In such cases where there is low testosterone, treatment in the form of testosterone replacement therapy has been found to be highly effective. When men hide their ED from their doctors, they are closing a line of treatment open to them that could help them.

Another fall out of the male reluctance to talk about ED is the effect that it has on the women in their lives. A man who hides his problem, and prefers not to seek treatment for it is likely to withdraw from intimacy and affection from his spouse, causing a strain in an otherwise healthy relationship. In many cases, doctors have found that it's the spouses or the partners who convince their men to seek medical advice.

The numbers are discouraging to many doctors. They recommend that men share their experiences with ED openly in a private environment with their physician. It's normal for a man to feel some amount of hesitation when broaching this delicate topic, but he should be aware that progresses in medical science have resulted in newer effective treatments for ED. Not only that, by discussing his health openly and freely with his physician, he would be enabling his doctor to catch other more dangerous conditions, before they deteriorate.