Erectile Dysfunction Fairly Common in Younger Men
Erectile dysfunction may be more common in men under 40 than scientists previously thought.
In a recent study by Italian researchers, 26% of men seeking first-time help for ED were age 40 or younger. Almost half of those men had severe cases of ED.
The risk for ED generally increases with age. As men get older, they are more likely to develop comorbid conditions like diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
ED in younger men is often thought to have psychological or emotional causes.
Over 400 men participated in the study. They completed the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and the Charlson Cormorbidity Index (CCI).
Almost 26% of the men were age 40 and under. This group of men had lower rates of comorbid conditions, lower mean BMIs, and higher total testosterone levels than the older men. They were also more likely to smoke or use illicit drugs.
Almost half of the younger men had severe ED, compared to 40% of their older counterparts.
The results presented a “worrisome picture,” the authors said. They added, “This clearly confirms previous epidemiological data from population-based studies, thus outlining that ED is not only a disorder of the aging male and that erectile function impairment in young men should not be underestimated.”
The study was published online in May in The Journal of Sexual Medicine. Please click here for more details.
First Issue of Sexual Medicine Now Available!
The first issue of the ISSM's new open access journal, Sexual Medicine, is now available online.
This issue features original research in pharmacotherapy, basic science, erectile dysfunction, and female sexual health.
In the opening editorial, Editor-in-Chief Alan W. Shindel, MD explains how Sexual Medicine fits into the ISSM family of journals, which also includes The Journal of Sexual Medicine and Sexual Medicine Reviews.
"[Sexual Medicine] aims to be a truly global forum for high-quality sexual medicine research; we advocate that the best research should be published and made widely accessible as quickly as possible," he writes.
Don't miss this exciting first issue! Click here to read more.
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