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female
age
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anonymous
writes: I'm reading all kind of statistics about ED. But I'm confused. My husband has had it since 43, and he heard it from the doctor, that is very common in that age. Yet nobody we know has that. How common is that? Are we alone? Reply to this Question
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male
reader, anonymous, writes (15 February 2010): Try improving cardiac health, because whatever's good for the heart is good for the peepee!
A
reader, anonymous, writes (14 February 2010): Sorry, that was 17% moderate at age 40.
Also, note the list of prescription drugs that can cause ED.
Another thing that is believed to cause it is the increase of estrogens in the food supply. That is something else to test in men who have ED, along with testosterone. As men age, their testosterone level falls, while their estrogen level rises. That is not good for many problems in men. Men over 55 tend to have higher estradiol levels than women over 55.
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reader, anonymous, writes (14 February 2010): Here is one study:
http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/endocrinology/erectile-dysfunction/
ED was classified as mild, moderate or complete. The incidence at age 40 was 40% mild, 14% moderate and 5% complete. For me, it didn't start until age 61 and I really didn't notice it until age 62. My wife noticed that I wasn't quite as hard anymore. It because moderate by age 63. In my case, it was tied to me having low testosterone. Once that was discovered and I started to use supplemental testosterone, the ED mostly went away. It took a few months to get the dose right, but I am now almost 65 and it is sometimes mild and sometimes non-existent. I no longer need Viagra. I read last year that one doctor who treats men's hormone problems said that 30% of his patients who have ED and low testosterone no longer have ED after testosterone treatment and many of the others need smaller doses of Viagra.
I read a couple of men's health forums and there are cases of ED in men as young as 18 years old. For younger men, it seems to be tied much more to low testosterone, while in older men, it can be tied to that or to cardiovascular health. It is much more prevalent in men who smoke or have smoked a lot over time.
The fact that you think that no one who you know has it is not surprising. Men don't like to talk about it, even to their wives or a doctor. They try to ignore it or refuse to admit it. Many men secretly get Viagra or some substitute over the internet so that they don't have to tell their wives or go to a doctor.
The first thing to do is to find out what the cause is. Few doctors seem to know anything about low testosterone in men. Also, few doctors try to determine the cause of ED in patients. They just prescribe Viagra, without trying to find out the real cause. ED can be a sign of a more serious medical condition, such as heart disease. It can be caused by clogged arteries and is often the first sign of that. The artery to the penis is small and will be one of the first to get clogged to the point of non-function. At the age of 43, a complete physical should be done to see if there are any problems that could cause ED. A test for testosterone might also be done, although most doctors don't even look at that.
While it is not rare at the age of 43, I don't believe that it is very common either. His doctor is probably basing it on the number of men who see him about it, but not considering that most men don't see a doctor unless something is wrong. Therefore he doesn't even see those who don't have a problem. I guess 40% having mild ED might be common, but mild ED doesn't stop a man from having sex most of the time. A urologist is the type of doctor who is best trained to diagnose ED, so your husband should see one if possible.
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A
female
reader, Emilysanswers  +, writes (14 February 2010):
Put 40 over 40 into google.
It's a uk site that gives lots of help and advice.
Men who have it tend not to tell their mates about it... or their wife, or their doctor. They just get grumpy and say they are tired.
Good Luck!! xx
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A
male
reader, CaringGuy +, writes (14 February 2010):
No, you're not alone at all. Some guys in their twenties get it. It can be a few things. Maybe he's stressed, or nervous, or just tired. Don't take it personally, it's not you or him. Just focus on loving each other and spending time with each other, and you'll be fine.
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