A new study published in Scientific Reports reveals the leading causes of ED and most of them are easy to fix.
The study used data from the National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019, focusing on men aged 18 and above.
To gauge the presence and severity of ED, the participants completed a self-administered questionnaire based on the International Index of Erectile Function, a tool recognized for its effectiveness in evaluating erectile dysfunction.
Additionally, the researchers gathered information on the participants’ socio-demographic backgrounds, lifestyles, and any existing health conditions through interviews.
From the pool of 2,403 men who participated, the study unveiled the following findings.
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1. 31.6% experienced moderate to severe ED. This is a significant portion of the population that grapples with this issue, highlighting the need for awareness and intervention.
2. The average score across all respondents on the erectile function scale was 18.16 out of a possible 25, indicating that many men were in the borderline zone of experiencing ED. Erection firmness was the biggest problem.
3. Predictably, age was a major risk factor for ED, with men aged 60 years and above being three times more likely to struggle with it.
4. Marital status was related to ED, with single and divorced men showing almost three times higher rates. Researchers speculated that the problem for single men stemmed from sexual inexperience and lack of knowledge.
5. Education level had an impact too. Those without formal education or who only reached primary or secondary school levels were more likely to experience ED, possibly because their socio-economic status and healthcare access were lower.
6. Private employees, the self-employed, the unemployed, homemakers, students, and retirees showed higher associations with the condition, suggesting that occupational stress and financial stability might impact men’s sexual health.
7. Those in the lowest household income category experienced a worse risk, suggesting that the stress of poverty and potential lack of healthcare contributed as well.
8. Since ED is linked with poor blood vessel health, physical inactivity unsurprisingly increased participants’ risk by 50%.
9. Rural dwellers had a higher risk, also possibly because of lower healthcare access.
The strongest risk factors were age, marital status, and complete lack of formal education.
This suggests that lack of sexual experience, performance anxiety, stress, poor access to healthcare, and lack of knowledge and sexual self-awareness might be some of the biggest modifiable risk factors for ED.