Image: The little blue pill can make some men feel like superheroes again, but other men may need a different approach | Shutterstock
“It’s scientifically proven!”
“It’s all-natural!”
“It’s endorsed by these top 17 medical experts!”
We’ve all gotten these emails in our inbox—spam promising to cure anything and everything that could possibly be wrong with your penis (whether or not you have one!). The only thing spammers love more than erectile dysfunction is the money they’re hoping you’ll give them for a cure!
But these spam emails’ “natural-scientific-endorsed” products aren’t necessarily going to help you if you really do suffer from erectile dysfunction. Spammers play on your fears, frustrations, and social masculinity to make a sale.
First and foremost, erectile dysfunction is a medical condition. It’s not a dig at your masculinity, and it’s definitely not something to be embarrassed about or ashamed of, despite what emails from BonersNowXXX! would have you believe. Erectile dysfunction is more common than you might think, too—it affects 15 to 30 million men in the US alone. About 40% of men in their 40s experience mild ED, and about 5% experience severe cases. ED can be more problematic as you get older, too: by age 65, 65% of men experience ED. Twenty percent of those are severe cases.
Most men have trouble achieving or maintaining an erection every now and then. If it’s infrequent, it’s nothing to worry about. If the problem persists, though, it’s definitely worth looking into.
Here are some things to keep in mind:
- Sometimes erectile dysfunction is a symptom of a bigger physical problem: for example, high blood pressure, vascular disease, diabetes, or kidney disease. Anything that affects your body’s blood flow can affect blood flow to the penis.
- Take a good look at the potential side effects of any medications you’re already taking—over 200 prescription drugs currently on the market can contribute to ED.
- Are you getting all your fruits and veggies? Exercising regularly? Keeping it reasonable when it comes to beers with the buds? It turns out that the state of your basic health can affect ED, too. So all that stuff your doctor is telling you about good nutrition can work wonders in the bedroom, too.
- Erectile dysfunction can be caused by psychological factors like depression, anxiety, and stress. Whether it’s bedroom blues or some other life factor that has got you down (and definitely not up), it’s important to pay attention to those emotions and get the help and support you need.
ED is completely treatable, as are many of the conditions that lead to it. And that treatment doesn’t mean sending your credit card information to a nefarious spammer! Talk to your doctor to figure out what’s the best treatment for your situation—you’ll be back in the sack before you know it!
Are you in the market for a new urologist and fertility expert? Contact me to set up an appointment today.