Statistics and General Information about Erectile Dysfunction

Dealing with erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a depressing and/or confusing process for many men. The two things we recommend you do if you think you have ED is to call a urologist and do some research about ED online. For your convenience, we compiled the following erectile dysfunction statistics and educational information to help you better understand what it means to have ED.

Prevalence

Erectile dysfunction is by no means a rare condition. According to medically-reviewed research by SingleCare, 10% of men experience ED at some point in their lifetime, and over 322 million men are projected to have experienced it by 2025. In regards to the ages of those affected by ED, a common belief is that it primarily affects older men. That is not untrue; SingleCare reports that men over the age of 40 are three times more likely to suffer from ED than younger men. However, they also report that the prevalence of ED has been rapidly increasing in men younger than 40 in recent years. ED can affect adult men of all ages, so do not be discouraged if you are a younger man and notice symptoms. There is help and treatment available for you. 

Symptoms, Causes, and Risk Factors

You can self-diagnose erectile dysfunction fairly easily, your inability to produce or maintain an erection does not necessarily mean you have ED. Healthline reports that it is completely normal for you to have erectile issues in 20% of your sexual encounters, and you should only start to worry if you have issues with a majority (more than 50%) of your sexual encounters. That is why we highly suggest seeking a proper medical diagnosis so you can know for sure whether you have ED or not – as well as what may be causing it. Speaking of causes, community pharmacist Christina Aungst lists some of the most common causes of ED including sedentary lifestyle, mental health issues, and overindulging in alcohol and smoking. She also lists several risk factors including heart disease, high cholesterol, and diabetes. These and many other aspects of your life can increase your chances of experiencing ED, so we cannot stress enough the importance of seeking professional help.

Misconceptions

We previously mentioned that erectile dysfunction is more common in older men, but a common misconception is thinking only older men can have ED. This is one of the many myths surrounding ED. WebMD also says that yes, ED is more common among older men, but that does not mean you have to live with it. It is more than possible for older adults and elderly to get erections without any problems. Another myth WebMD cites is that ED is not dangerous. This is technically true, according to them, as the condition itself is not dangerous, but it can be a symptom or an early sign of a serious health condition. As you can see, there is a lot to understand about ED, so we recommend you do some additional research beyond these statistics about erectile dysfunction to educate yourself on the condition.

Scientists have studied erectile dysfunction for decades, and their work has allowed us to learn all we know about it including causes, prevalence, symptoms, and, most importantly, treatment. Doing your own research about erectile dysfunction statistics and everything ED-related can help, but seeing a urologist is the best way to address your ED. Thankfully, the experts at Apex Health Center will professionally diagnose your ED and provide you with the best treatment options around.