Myths About Impotence and Erectile Dysfunction
Impotence Will Destroy a Marriage, and Other ED Myths
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is a condition wherein the male has difficulty in sustaining an erection, hence difficulty in having intercourse. This may be caused by health factors such as stress, diabetes, and heart problems. There are those among us who get their facts straight about ED and understand it, by asking a physician and reading relevant material on it. However, there are a few people who totally fear impotence or ED for all the wrong reasons. Here are some myths and the truths behind them.
Marriage Goes Bye-Bye
When a man experiences ED, will this destroy a relationship? It should be understood by many that intimacy is only one factor that determines a long-lasting relationship. Initial reactions by women when her partner has ED include feelings of guilt and blaming herself. The same goes with the man. ED will only be a hindrance to a marriage if both persons do not communicate toward a solution. Marriage experts say that working together to battle ED, now that there are many options for treatment, will actually be a means to strengthen a relationship. Read more
Impotence and Erectile Dysfunction are Worldwide
Impotence is a Global Concern
Erectile dysfunction (ED), or impotence, happens to men all over the world. Research has been ongoing for decades, and breakthroughs have been introduced to battle this condition. The International Society for Sexual Medicine (ISSM) is one of many organizations that perform research and provide further information on ED.
Before Pfizer brought Viagra into the market, they funded a study in 1998 to test the ED awareness of men in 10 countries: Argentina, China, France, Germany, Mexico, Morocco, Norway, South Korea, Sweden, and Turkey. So what did the men think? Summarized below are information gathered from some of the observed countries. See if you share the same opinions.
Germany – Majority of the men here believe that impotence is psychological, caused by relationship problems and drinking too much alcohol. Nearly half of German men believe that as one gets older, impotence will naturally occur. Also, 68% of German men, more than any other country, believe that ED is common among men aged 40 and above. Surprisingly, 66% of them would most likely not seek help if they experience ED. Read more
How To Prevent Erectile Dysfunction
Doesn’t Matter What You Do, ED Could Happen To You
Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been an identified problem for several decades now. When Viagra was released in 1998, most people believed that the number of men with ED would decline over the years. However, with the world’s ever increasing population, environmental problems, and new medical conditions at present, that prediction does not seem to be happening.
ED has been attributed to a patient’s age, previous health problems, lifestyle habits, and mental wellness. There is no known way of preventing ED, although there are several methods to diagnose it. There is no 100% effective cure for ED, but there are many products and procedures available that help remedy the condition.
In the United States, according to a 1994 Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS), the prevalence of all degrees of impotence is 52%. The prevalence of men with moderate impotence is 25.5%, minimal ED at 17.2%, and complete ED at 9.6%. The MMAS found that prevalence of impotence increases with age for subjects between the ages of 40 to 70 years old. Data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) approximate that 5% of 40-year-old men in the US have ED, while 15 to 25% of 65-year-old men have ED. Read more
ED Therapy Without Drugs
Beyond the Drugs: Is there Therapy for ED?
In the United States, over 30 million men experience erectile dysfunction (ED). Medical experts say that ED is a combination of many physical as well as psychological factors. Most of the drugs available commercially, like Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra, are made to target the physical hurdle of ED. But for some men, the drugs just don’t seem to work for them. So the question is: Is there therapy for ED?
The answer is yes. If physical elements of ED can’t be solved, then the mental causes can. A survey done in 2001 by the Cochrane Collaboration, an international organization which provides reviews and information on healthcare interventions, found out that about 43% of the studied men had ED because of physical factors, 43% had ED due to psychological factors, and the rest attribute their ED to both.
In some cases, doctors recommend a patient to undergo psychotherapy, when a patient experiences ED because of anxiety or low self-esteem towards sex. This is done to relieve the stress associated with ED or when undergoing other treatments for ED. Other times, the man’s partner undergoes psychotherapy as well, so both can benefit from techniques to improve their lovemaking and overcome ED. Read more