Sexual problems are among the most common health issues men face, and the ones they’re least likely to mention. Here’s what the research actually shows.
Key takeaways
- About half of men aged 40 to 70 have some degree of erection problem, and one in four men seeking help for a new one is under 40.
- Erection problems can be an early warning sign for heart disease, so they’re worth a check of blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
- Effective prescription treatments exist for erection problems and early ejaculation, but they need to fit the cause and be safe for you.
How commonErection problems are common, and not just for older men
The Massachusetts Male Aging Study found that 52% of men aged 40 to 70 had some degree of erection problem. Complete erectile dysfunction tripled across that age range.1
Massachusetts Male Aging Study.1
It isn’t only an older man’s problem. In an Italian clinic study, one in four men seeing a doctor for new erection problems was under 40.2
Closer to home, a study of 803 men attending a primary care clinic in Durban found that almost two-thirds had some degree of erectile dysfunction.3 That was a clinic group rather than the general population, and South African research in this area is limited, but it shows how common the problem is in the people who come through the door.
Worldwide, researchers projected that around 322 million men would be living with erectile dysfunction by 2025.4
Early ejaculationEarly ejaculation is just as common
Premature ejaculation is one of the most common sexual complaints men have. In a survey of more than 12,000 men aged 18 to 70 in the US, Germany and Italy, 22.7% said they had it, and the rate barely changed with age from the mid-twenties onwards.5
Your heartYour erections can be an early warning
Erections depend on healthy blood vessels. Problems can show up there before they show up anywhere else. A review of 14 studies involving more than 92,000 men found that men with erectile dysfunction had a 44% higher rate of later cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks and strokes, than men without it.6
That doesn’t mean you’re heading for a heart attack. It means an erection problem is worth taking seriously, and worth a check of your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.7
The causesWhat’s behind it
Usually more than one thing.8 The good news is that most of these can be treated.
TreatmentWhat works
How Oryx helpsPrivate, online, with a doctor
You can raise this privately, online, with a doctor, without sitting in a waiting room. An Oryx doctor will ask what’s happening, check for the health issues that can sit behind it, and explain your options.
Treatment is delivered discreetly to your door. Only you and your doctor need to know about this.
QuestionsFrequently asked questions
How common are erection problems?
Very common. 52% of men aged 40 to 70 had some degree of erection problem in the Massachusetts Male Aging Study, and one in four men seeing a doctor for a new erection problem in an Italian clinic study was under 40.
Can erection problems be a sign of heart disease?
They can be an early warning. A review of 14 studies found men with erectile dysfunction had a 44% higher rate of later heart attacks and strokes. It’s worth a check of your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol.
How common is premature ejaculation?
In a survey of more than 12,000 men, 22.7% said they had it. That figure is self-reported, and fewer men meet the stricter clinical definition, but it’s one of the most common sexual complaints men have.
Can I take erection medicine with other medicines?
Not with all of them. Erection medicines must never be taken with nitrate heart medicines or “poppers”. Your doctor will check your medicines before prescribing.
Is an Oryx consultation private?
Yes. You speak to a doctor online, without a waiting room, and treatment is delivered in discreet packaging. Only you and your doctor need to know.
How much does the Oryx sexual health programme cost?
Sexual health programmes start from R400 a month. Your doctor will give you the full cost before you commit.
Something’s changed and you’d rather not sit in a waiting room? Start with the free two-minute eligibility check.
The free eligibility check takes two minutes, it’s private, and there’s no obligation. If you’re a good fit, you’ll speak to one of our doctors.
References
- Feldman HA et al. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol 1994
- Capogrosso P et al. One patient out of four with newly diagnosed erectile dysfunction is a young man. J Sex Med 2013
- Campbell M, Stein DJ. Sexual dysfunction: a systematic review of South African research (reporting Lockhat et al 2013). S Afr Med J 2014
- Aytac IA et al. The likely worldwide increase in erectile dysfunction between 1995 and 2025. BJU Int 1999
- Porst H et al. The Premature Ejaculation Prevalence and Attitudes (PEPA) survey. Eur Urol 2007
- Vlachopoulos CV et al. Prediction of cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality with erectile dysfunction: a systematic review and meta-analysis. 2013
- European Association of Urology. Guidelines on sexual and reproductive health
- NIDDK. Symptoms and causes of erectile dysfunction
- Effect of aerobic exercise on erectile function: systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. 2023
