Erectile dysfunction (ED) remains one of the most underdiagnosed reasons for treatment in primary care and urology. A large-scale European study, conducted in Spain, France, Germany and Great Britain, translated into numbers what specialists see at the reception every day: ignorance and stigma around men's sexual health.
Analyzing these data helps to understand patient behavior and strengthen prevention and early detection strategies within the framework of evidence-based medicine.
Key results of European research: the barrier of ignorance
Pathophysiology against social stigma
То, что52% of men cannot accurately determine what erectile dysfunction is, speaks of a gap in sanitary education. Some mistakenly equate any episodic failure with a persistent problem, others attribute a gradual decrease in rigidity only to age. Complaints in this case are different: weak erection, unstable or bad erection, periodic problems with erection, in some cases complete violation of erection.
From a clinical point of view, erectile dysfunction is defined as a persistent inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual intimacy. This is not an isolated state, but a marker of the state of the endothelium.
Silent 69%: a window for cardioprevention
The most indicative result of the report:69% of men have never discussed this topic with a doctor. In light of the recommendations of the European Association of Urology (EAU), such clinical silence has consequences beyond the sexual sphere.
Vessels of the penis with a smaller diameter (1-2 mm) show signs of endothelial dysfunction earlier than coronary (3-4 mm) or carotid arteries. Therefore, erectile dysfunction is considered an early warning symptom. Timely attention to it opens a clinical window of 3-5 years for the prevention of serious cardiovascular events and early detection of type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, or age-related hypogonadism.
Aggravating factors today
Supplementing these research data with current practice, we note the growth of erectile dysfunction in men under 40 years of age. Several factors converge here:
Psychogenic factor:the growth of anxiety disorders, chronic stress and burnout increase the level of cortisol and suppress the parasympathetic pathways necessary for erection.
Inactivity and metabolism:deterioration of food habits affects the synthesis of nitric oxide (NO), the main mediator of penile vasodilation.
Digital disinformation:unmoderated forums and self-medication. Uncontrolled intake of so-called pills for potency and other drugs for potency (as a rule, PDE-5 inhibitors) without the supervision of a doctor can worsen the picture and strengthen the psychological component.
Telemedicine as the first step: overcome 46% of delays
The research concludes that46% of patients postpone treatment because of shame. To reduce this number, there are ways to reduce the patient's anxiety.
This is where telemedicine turned out to be especially useful. It is easier to start dealing with the problem through an online consultation of a urologist: some of the physical and psychological barriers are removed. During a remote and confidential assessment, the doctor can, according to clinical indications:
collect a structured history using validated questionnaires, for example IIEF-5
orient yourself in the nature of the disorder, psychogenic or organic
assess the need for target analyzes (lipid profile, glucose, total and free testosterone)
to propose a step-by-step management plan based on evidence-based medicine
The doctor makes the decision about any examination or treatment after the assessment.
Treatment of erectile dysfunction in men is selected individually. Modern treatment of erectile dysfunction includes several levels: from lifestyle correction to drug treatment of erectile dysfunction and, in some cases, surgical treatment of erectile dysfunction. When discussing the treatment of erectile dysfunction and pills, it is almost always about PDE-5 inhibitors, and drugs for the treatment of erectile dysfunction should only be prescribed by a doctor. There is no universal medicine for erectile dysfunction: what is commonly called erection pills or erection preparations is selected strictly according to indications. The question of how to restore an erection is not solved by one pill, but by eliminating the cause. In the absence of an erection or its persistent violation, it is important to first understand what is behind the symptom.
Erectile dysfunction requires a comprehensive medical approach, not silence. Taking the first step through an online consultation is a safe and delicate way to return both the quality of intimate life and control over health in general. You can sign up for a primary medical assessment with a doctor on Oladoctor.
