Study: ED Taking a Toll on Men Under 40

People often think of erectile dysfunction (ED) as “an old man’s problem.”

The truth is, ED affects young men as well, and it’s not an inevitable part of aging.

Younger men and ED: psychological or physical?

A study published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine reported that 26% of men who

went to an outpatient clinic for newly developed ED were under 40.

Of those men, nearly half had severe ED, while only 40% of their over-40 counterparts had severe ED.

As might be expected, compared to the older men, the under-40 patients weighed less, had higher testosterone levels, had fewer medical conditions, and smoked cigarettes and/or used illegal drugs more.

Still, ED is a marker for cardiovascular function, and something doctors are looking at in a new light among their younger patients.

According to the Journal of Sexual Medicine’s editor, Irwin Goldstein, it used to be common for doctors to assume that their younger patients’ ED issues were primarily psychological, not related to vascular problems.

“We now need to consider regularly assessing the integrity of arterial inflow in young patients,” explains Goldstein.

“Identifying arterial pathology in such patients may be very relevant to their overall long-term health.”

Treating ED in younger men

The good news is that most men under 40 can take a prescription drug—such as Viagra, Cialis or Levitra—for their ED.

The few exceptions are men who have:

• Recently had a heart attack, stroke or life-threatening irregular heart rate
• Experienced chest pains during sex
• High or low blood pressure

Although some men experience side effects from ED drugs, in general, they are neither common nor serious. They include:

• Headaches
• Heartburn
• Upset stomach
• Flushing
• Nasal congestion
• Back pain
• Hearing loss
• Changes in vision

Each medication is different, so if one ED drug doesn’t work for you, or if the side effects are too unbearable, it’s worth trying another.