The facts about ED

Erectile dysfunction (ED):

ED is defined as the persistent inability to attain and/or maintain an erection sufficient for sexual performance 18. ED remains a cause of significant embarrassment to those who experience it and getting the patient to discuss the issue can be one of the biggest hurdles to effective management.

Patients wait too long before seeking help:

Men with ED will wait on average 17 months before seeing their GP or nurse 22, during which time this can cause friction within their relationship resulting in avoidance of intimacy. Patients have immense difficulty in accepting and admitting that they have ED, which reinforces the need for practitioners to take their condition seriously and to encourage the patient to seek treatment. A patient dismissed without some form of management plan may never return or broach the subject again.

ED is a medical condition:

The majority of cases of ED will have a physical cause; the most common cause being vascular disease – hypertension, coronary disease, diabetes and/or other heart diseases. In fact, ED in an otherwise asymptomatic man may be a marker for underlying coronary artery disease. Therefore, all men with unexplained ED should have a thorough evaluation and any risk factors for coronary heart disease that are identified should be addressed 18. Given the known reluctance of patients to present with ED, it is important for professionals to discuss this subject as a routine part of their health screening programme and to check for ED annually with patients who have diabetes.

ED is treatable:

although distressing for the patient and their partner, ED is both common and treatable. It’s not an all or nothing condition. It may be categorised in one of the following three ways:

  • Mild ED: The ability to get and keep an erection is mildly decreased. Men with mild ED typically report only occasional satisfaction with their sexual performance.
  • ED: The ability to get and keep an erection is moderately decreased. Men with moderate ED may report infrequent satisfaction with their sexual performance.
  • Severe ED: The ability to get and keep an erection is severely decreased. Men with severe ED may report no or rare satisfaction with their sexual performance.

ED affects relationships:

Irrespective of its severity, the impact of ED on the patient and their partner can be immense. It is thought to cause, or be a major factor, in 21% of relationship breakdowns 48. ED constitutes a threat to a patient’s masculinity. His identity, self perceptions and relationships will all be affected. Anxiety over his ED may lead to fear and avoidance of all intimate behaviour. Thus, partners may feel unattractive and/or turn elsewhere for sexual fulfillment. As a consequence, the partner may experience stress, reduced self-esteem and even depression, so both are counting on the treatment working successfully.