Sexual dysfunctions like erectile dysfunction (ED) take a physical toll on a man’s health, but they also affect their relationships and may have wider financial ramifications too.
We know that men living with ED and leave it untreated may suffer in their marriages and dating relationships. Now, there’s evidence to show that it can impact their professional lives as well. This article explores the problems men experience living with ED, their wider social impacts and offers a potential solution.
How Sexual Dysfunction Affects All Aspects of Life
Though Viagra has been on the market since 1998, our understanding of ED and its burden beyond sexual performance is still relatively limited. For instance, only in 2017 have we seen academic research detailing what we know about the burden of sexual dysfunction. The research out of the United Kingdom paints a serious picture: erectile dysfunction has severe physical, mental, and financial impacts.
Health Conditions Related to ED:
- Cardiovascular disease
- Diabetes
- Depression
These health conditions are not always diagnosed in a timely manner, and ED can sometimes be an indicator that a man is suffering from one of the above health conditions. Men who have erectile dysfunction lose sleep, feel depressed and lack confidence.
This puts stress on their relationships and their work lives, as men with ED take more sick days than men without sexual dysfunctions. In the United Kingdom, this loss of work productivity and direct costs associated with ED translated to a cost of 53 million pounds per year. In the United States, that number is estimated to be more than $330 million.
A Growing Concern among Men
Erectile dysfunction is commonly associated with older men, but now the condition is presenting in men in their 30s and 40s, but why? As a society, we’ve created vaccines to treat infectious diseases like polio and smallpox. Now, however, the developed world suffers less from infectious illnesses and more from chronic health conditions.
What contributes to chronic health conditions?
- Genetics
- Physical activity
- Diet
- Alcohol and tobacco use
Many of these factors also lead to ED, which is why we’re seeing ED in younger men.
Getting Help
Though ED is getting more common, that doesn’t mean there’s no stigma associated with the condition. Admitting to having ED or talking with a partner about ED is difficult enough. Deciding to seek healthcare can seem like an overwhelming burden. Fortunately, the barriers to seeking care for ED are greatly reduced, in part due to online retailers that sell Viagra. Now, men can even consult with healthcare providers online getting a prescription for ED without stepping into a doctor’s office.
Treating ED can mean improvements for men’s sexual health, their depressed state and confidence, and their relationships. Further, it may translate to less time off work, saving money lost to decreased productivity.
If you’re interested in the convenience of ordering prescription ED medications like Viagra online, visit the eDrugstore Erectile Dysfunction page.
Kwynn holds a Master of Public Health and is currently pursuing a PhD in Social Work. Her research examines the intersections of health, technology, and gender-based violence.