Truth, myth or outright lie? There’s plenty of information about erectile dysfunction (ED) circulating online, but it’s not always easy to tell fact from fiction. Here are some clarifications on five ED tidbits you may have read.
- Only old men get ED.
False. The good news is, although most men’s chance of developing ED goes up with age, it’s not inevitable. The bad news is, even younger men can get ED. In fact, a study published in the American Journal of Medicine found that 15% of men between 20 and 30 reported having difficulty with their erections at least occasionally during intercourse.
- All ED drugs are the same.
False. Although the big three names in ED drugs—Viagra, Cialis and Levitra—are all PDE5 inhibitors that work by relaxing smooth muscles and increasing blood flow to help you get an erection, they’re all a bit different. You’ll need to talk to your doctor about side effects, your needs and preferences, and risk factors to determine which is right for you.
- Taking testosterone will fix your ED.
It depends. The first thing to do is have your testosterone levels checked. If you’re within the normal range, taking testosterone probably won’t cure your ED. If your levels are low, taking testosterone may or may not help. Some men will still need to take ED drugs, like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, to get or maintain an erection.
- ED is a psychological problem.
Sometimes. But sometimes it’s physiological and sometimes it’s both. While stress, anxiety and depression can all affect erections, lack of blood flow to the penis due to blocked or damaged blood vessels could be causing the ED.
- Smoking can lead to ED.
True. Smoking damages blood vessels, which can decrease blood flow to your penis. But for most men, it’s never too late to reserve the issue by tossing the cigarettes for good.
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