Erectile dysfunction (ED), also known as impotence, refers to the inability to achieve or maintain an erection.
Prevalence of ED
Erectile dysfunction is the most common sex problem reported by men to their doctor.
- Affects as many as 30 million American men
- More than half (52%) of all American men experience ED at some point in their life
- Not just a disease of old men, ED affects 40% of men older than 40 and as much as 70% of men older than 70
- 25% of men presenting for first-time treatment of ED are younger than 40, with almost 50% regarded as severe cases.
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Certain health conditions can increase your risk of developing ED.
- ~ 90% of all men with ED have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease (i.e., diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or active smoking)
- 35% to 75% of men with diabetes will experience some degree of ED
- Up to 68% of men with high blood pressure have some form of ED, with 45% reporting severe cases
- 50% to 60% of cases of ED in men older than 60 are due to hardening of the arteries, which is the primary cause of heart disease
- Risk of ED is increased by 60% if you smoke more than 1 pack daily
- More than 200 prescription medications have ED as a potential side effect.
Treatment of ED
The mainstays for the treatment of ED are oral medications, including PDE5 inhibitors such sildenafil (Viagra®), vardenafil (Levitra®), tadalafil (Cialis®), and avanafil (Stendra®).
- Only 33% of men seek treatment for ED
- 66% of men who have taken Viagra report successful intercourse
- 48% of men experience one or more side effects (e.g., stuffy nose, headache, or visual changes) after using Viagra
- 69% of men reported that their ED persisted despite oral medications.
In the event that oral medications don’t successfully treat ED, there are other treatments, including penile injections or suppositories, vacuum erection devices, or surgery to place penile implants.
- 80% of men with ED, regardless of their age or the cause of their ED, achieve erections with penile injections
- 50% to 80% of men report being satisfied with the results of vacuum erection devices
- 90% to 95% of penile implants produce erections suitable for sex
- 80% to 90% of men report being satisfied with the results of penile implants.
An Innovation in ED Treatment
Another emerging treatment for ED with no side-effects is non-invasive, non-surgical, low-intensity shockwave therapy (LISWT).
- 60% of men experiencing ED reported a positive effect with LISWT after only 12 sessions (twice per week)
- 92% of responders maintained their positive responses to LISWTfor a total of 1 year after initial treatment
- 55% of responders maintained their positive responses to LISWT for a total of 2 years after initial treatment
References
http://potencyup.com/erectile-dysfunction-statistics-you-need-to-know/
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/urologic-diseases/erectile-dysfunction
http://www.urologyhealth.org/urologic-conditions/erectile-dysfunction
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2576613
https://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/guide/ed-diabetes
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/15029-heart-disease–erectile-dysfunction
https://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/news/20030307/smoking-can-lead-to-erectile-dysfunction
https://www.menshealth.com/health/a19546827/common-erectile-dysfunction-medication-mistakes/
https://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/guide/alprostadil-treat-ed#1
https://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/guide/vacuum-constriction-devices#1
https://www.webmd.com/erectile-dysfunction/guide/penile-prosthesis#2-5
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5121537/
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022534718393765