According to a recent survey, having a high-paying job can ruin your sex life. Isn’t it ironic? So many guys strive for a top career as a status symbol. Men in our culture are still expected to climb the professional ladder and bring home a good salary. What they often don’t realize, is that success comes with a price.
High-earning jobs linked to ED, survey says
Zava surveyed 1000 UK men and found a correlation between work, lifestyle, and ED. This study was interesting because it was the male participants who assessed what might be causing their sexual problems.
Almost a quarter admitted that work stress affected their bedroom performance. 27% of respondents – the ones with more senior managerial jobs – admitted they experienced ED regularly.
Money might be power when it comes to earnings but it certainly doesn’t help in intimate life. The higher the salary the more erectile difficulties a man has, it appears. While about 47% of men earning £50 000 a year reported suffering from ED, a staggering 68% of top earners (£70-80 000) had to deal with erectile problems.
Why do men with top jobs suffer from ED?
Why is professional success linked to ED? The report doesn’t give exact answers but it lists work-related anxiety and stress as major factors contributing to erectile dysfunction. A well-paying and senior position comes with more responsibility. This is a big source of stress especially paired with long working hours and travel.
Another possible reason why top career men have erectile problems can be age. It takes time to climb the corporate ladder and land a managerial position. Statistics show that ED is more common in men over 50.
Your lifestyle choices may be causing ED
Regardless of the job you have, you need to be aware that lifestyle choices increase your risk of developing ED at some point in your life. Among the men taking part in the Zava survey, 25% self-identified as overweight, 23% said they suffered from stress, anxiety, and depression and 22% admitted they were smokers.
Other risk factors named in the report were: drinking over 14 units of alcohol a week and taking prescription drugs such as antidepressants. An interesting finding concerned porn consumption. 23% of men said watching pornography made their ED worse.
How ED affects your relationship
Erectile problems are serious because they affect your whole life, especially your relationship. According to the Zava survey, 39% of men avoided sex because of their problems getting and keeping an erection. 29% were too embarrassed to talk to their partner about their difficulties and 17% took Viagra or similar medication in secret.
If you avoid talking to your partner or spouse about something so important as your sexual health, it will backfire sooner or later. For ED treatment to be truly effective, your significant other needs to be on board. Long periods without sexual intimacy can make things even worse. After all, sex is not just about intercourse. It’s a way to deepen intimacy and your romantic bond.
What to do if you notice ED symptoms?
So, what do you do if you are overworked, tired, eating and drinking too much? If you notice first signs of erectile dysfunction – regular difficulties getting and maintaining erection strong enough for satisfying intercourse – go and see your doctor as soon as possible.
The first step is always a medical diagnosis. The doctor will run some tests and see if your cardiovascular health is impacting your erections. Hormonal tests may be needed too. In some cases, you may be referred to a therapist or stress management expert.
In most ED cases the physical, mental and lifestyle causes are interlinked. The good news: with gradual lifestyle changes and medication such as Viagra, you can manage your ED or prevent it altogether. Click here to learn about available treatment options you can order online.
Anka Grzywacz is a sexologist, reproductive health expert and Certified Sex Coach™. In her online practice she helps busy women and couples solve their intimate problems.