The incidence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in American males has sharply escalated since the early 2000s. Key contributors include obesity, mental health issues and excessive exposure to pornography. The Mailhas the story.
The number of men seeking treatment for erectile dysfunction has soared in recent years amid what some have described as a ‘silent epidemic’.
Around a quarter of under-40s are though to struggle to get it up in bed, which has been linked to a rise in obesity rates, poor mental health and an overconsumption of pornography.
Northeastern states like Maine, Vermont and New Hampshire have relatively high median ages. ED is typically more common in older men.
Pill prescribing rates vary by state, but research shows the ones that lean Left politically tend to have more little blue pills in circulation which, men’s health experts say, could translate to more open dialogue between patients and doctors about sexual health issues that are taboo in many conservative states.
Dr. Helen Bernie, Director of Sexual and Reproductive Medicine at Indiana University said: “What you see from that top 10 list, those are your more progressive states, right? New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, California, Nevada.
“Those are typically more progressive states where they have better reproductive rights so you would assume that maybe people talk about sex a little bit more, maybe it’s a little bit more okay to prescribe these medicines.”
Overall, Southern states had far fewer pill bottles in circulation, with the exception of Florida, where ED prescriptions made up 0.25% of the total filled there.
“Then you look at the alternative. Down south, the strong Bible Belt, there’s a lot strong religious tie and, just in general, people don’t talk about sex, we can only talk about abstinence or pregnancy.
“And so perhaps doctors aren’t asking their patients about sexual activities so they’re not prescribing as much of the medication. It’s taboo.”
It is for this reason that Dr. Bernie said that the true number of men with erectile dysfunction is likely much higher than the estimated 30 million.
If a doctor living in a conservative-leaning area where sex is not freely discussed does not bring up a taboo subject in the safety of the exam room, the patient likely won’t either.
Erectile dysfunction is often a biomarker for a man’s overall health. An inability to get or maintain erection could be a result of undiagnosed high cholesterol or blood pressure or even a warning sign of cardiovascular disease. …
Erectile dysfunction is most often considered in older men because of the many age-related changes the body undergoes such as naturally declining testosterone levels, weakened pelvic muscles and a loss of the necessary nerve function that helps the brain communicate with other systems in the body that leads to an erection.
But in younger men, the source of the problem is often psychological. Performance anxiety and high levels of stress can affect the delicate balance of hormones in the body and functioning of the nervous system.
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