There are many myths regarding Erectile dysfunction, and honestly, people need to change their mindset. We made a list and found five myths that we think everyone should stop believing in.
- Only old people can get erectile dysfunction
Perhaps a long time ago in the past, this was the case. But now it is not so true anymore.
Perhaps it is better health knowledge or perhaps it is something else, but more people in their 20s and 30s have reported episodes of erectile dysfunction.
Clearly, with most men in their 20s, erectile dysfunction is usually not a permanent thing and it typically goes away on its own.
Meanwhile, the 30 something group is a little bit more concerned because some of the men within this age group are beginning to show symptoms of persistent erectile dysfunction.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects a considerable number of men, with estimates showing that around 8% of males aged 20-29 and 11% of males aged 30-39 experience this condition, according to an article on Medical News Today. The data also suggests an increasing trend of younger individuals seeking medical help for ED. It’s important to note that ED can be caused by various factors, both physical and emotional, which are essential for sexual activity.
It may be due to the very destructive modern lifestyle, what with our over-dependence on electronics, or it may be due to the unhealthy diets everybody is apt to follow.
The reality is, erectile dysfunction is only becoming more of a common sexual dysfunction in younger people.
- Erectile dysfunction only happens when you can’t ‘stand up’
Most men have this understanding that erectile dysfunction happens when you find yourself unable to get an erection, even after vigorous sexual stimulation.
Although this is not entirely incorrect, this understanding is a bit fragmented.
In reality, some men who have been diagnosed with erectile dysfunction can still have erections. The problem with some of these people is that they may have a very hard time maintaining their… well, ‘hard time’.
For some men who have erectile dysfunction, it can be quite difficult to maintain the hardness of the erection that sexual penetration becomes even impossible to do.
Meanwhile, some other men may be able to have an otherwise strong erection for sex, but can’t maintain this long enough to enjoy an entire session of sex.
So although the problems may look a bit different from each other, they all fall under the category of erectile dysfunction.
- Sex failure = erectile dysfunction
It is perhaps because the idea of erectile dysfunction is one that is very scary for men and the fact that there is a ton of misinformation about it, that a lot of people think any failure during sex may mean erectile dysfunction.
This is not always the case. There are many reasons as to why a man can fail at performing in bed every now and then.
People aren’t perfect anyway, so you can’t expect any man to always have it together and get an erection every single time they want to have sex.
Sometimes, even when your mood tells you that you want to have sex, the body may not always be in alignment with that desire.
You could be too tired that day, or perhaps, the alcohol you have just had was a bit too much for you, and now you are drowsy. That?s all.
- Erectile dysfunction is an issue with the male genitalia
Of course, erectile dysfunction is very prominently seen with the penis whether or not it is capable of having an erection in the first place.
But what most people don’t seem to know just yet, is that erectile dysfunction is almost always accompanied by other underlying medical issues.
For instance, studies have observed most people who suffer from heart diseases also suffer from erectile dysfunction.
Another observation that is quite obvious, diabetic people also have a high rate of erectile dysfunction.
The opposite observation also applies. Older men who suffer from erectile dysfunction are typically found to have some kind of heart disease or a problem with their prostate.
According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, erectile dysfunction and lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) are highly prevalent among aging men with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). These conditions share common risk factors, including hypertension, cardiovascular disorders, cigarette smoking, obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, as well as psychological factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
As such, it has been suggested that erectile dysfunction itself may actually be a sign of other medical conditions that directly affect a man’s ability to get his genitalia up and working.
- Erectile dysfunction can only be solved by using Viagra
That is absolutely incorrect. Viagra may be the most famous brand name for a drug that works wonder for treating erectile dysfunction, but it is not the only treatment available out there.
In fact, not all erectile dysfunction problems may even need Viagra to get resolved.
This is because there are a few reasons why a man can be experiencing consistent erectile dysfunction, and each of these conditions needs different approaches as well as treatments.
We have a better understanding now that not all erectile dysfunction is rooted in the physiology, sometimes erectile dysfunction can be rooted in the mental and psychology of the person.
Stress, anxiety, depression are some common contributors to erectile dysfunction and they, most of the time, would require behavioral therapy to resolve.
Routine exercise as well as mindfulness meditation can usually be helpful for improving erectile dysfunction, too. So now you know it is not only Viagra that can save the day.
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- Experiencing erectile dysfunction means you are losing your manliness
Many men are probably not aware of the damage this kind of thinking does to them.
It is quite a shame that many men associate their ability to get hard and maintain an erection with how manly they are as a person.
In reality, the two are actually hardly related, beyond the fact that the male sex hormone testosterone plays an important role in male sex drive.
Sometimes, men think that experiencing erectile dysfunction is a shameful thing because it means they have ‘failed’ as a man.
It is not true as erectile dysfunction is simply a medical condition that occurs after a series of other health complications have arisen.
During a discussion in Urology Times®, Dr. Arthur L. Burnett, MD, MBA, FACS, addressed the stigmatization surrounding erectile dysfunction (ED), particularly in men. He highlighted the societal notion that men should possess sexual prowess and be both masculine and fully functional. Consequently, if a man experiences difficulties in any aspect of the male sexual response cycle, it may lead to feelings of inadequacy and the perception of not meeting societal expectations or the desires of their partner. This stigma, Dr. Burnett emphasized, is the most significant aspect, where individuals may feel they fall short of their own aspirations or the perceived expectations of their partner.
So, before you drown in that slump of a mindset, just know that this medical condition has a root and that it can get professional treatment.
This condition has nothing to do with how manly or not manly you are.
- Erectile dysfunction naturally occurs to you as you are growing old
Back in the day, we knew that erectile dysfunction afflicted mostly older men, especially those already in their 50s.
With that, a lot of people are under the impression that erectile dysfunction naturally occurs as a man reaches an older age. This is a misconception at best.
In reality, we have plenty of middle-aged men who are perfectly healthy and capable of getting and maintaining decent erections.
The real problem with erectile dysfunction in older men is how they have lived their younger years.
Very unhealthy ways of living and eating eventually take a toll on our body, and when you are old, there is bound to be a lot of health problems that have accumulated throughout years of an unhealthy lifestyle.
Erectile dysfunction is only one of those conditions you eventually develop and it is actually a result of other existing ailments.
