Erectile Dysfunction and Associated Risk Factors Among Young Adults

30 March, 2021  |  Holy Winter - Healthcare Writer

Before we talk about the relationship between erectile dysfunction and youth, we need to define what we mean by erectile dysfunction in the first place. Once upon a time, it used to be called ‘impotence’, which means when the penis does not receive enough blood to produce a proper erection for satisfactory sexual intercourse.

Erectile dysfunction is thought to become common with age as people grow older, but it can also affect many young men. Regardless of age, getting treatment for erectile dysfunction is a good idea for all age groups.

While not talked about openly, erectile dysfunction is a widespread occurrence among most of the male population at least once in their lifetime. According to some estimates, in the United Kingdom alone, 4.3 million men have erectile dysfunction to some degree or another.

Can Young People Suffer from Erectile Dysfunction?

As mentioned before, erectile dysfunction is a rarely talked about ailment that is perceived to be a problem for older adults only. However, the truth is that it can and does affect a lot of young men as well. Some estimates put this figure at 8% of men, aged between 20 and 29, who suffer from erectile dysfunction. It was observed to be 11% for men aged between 30 and 39. 

This data suggests that the number of people under the age of 40 seeking ED treatment is increasing day by day.

There are many possibilities for why erectile dysfunction is on the rise. Many common factors can contribute to ED at any age and can include both physical and emotional aspects, both of which are very important for any sexual activity.

Some of the most common factors that contribute to erectile dysfunction include:

• Smoking cigarettes

• Drinking a lot of alcohol

• Pre-existing anxiety, depression or feelings of guilt or shame regarding sexual activity

• Stress associated with sex or related topics

• Using recreational drugs

• Being overweight or obese

• Living a sedentary lifestyle without any exercise

• Relying on workout supplements or over the counter erectile aids too often

Whether a man is old or young, making lifestyle changes that reduce stress levels and increase exercise will significantly improve erectile problems and improve their overall health.

How is Age Related to Erectile Dysfunction?

Age is one of the most common risk factors for erectile dysfunction. According to some studies, males have a 40% chance of some form of ED by the time they are 40 years old. The risk then increases at a pace of about 10% per decade.

That is an alarming figure.

While people are likelier to develop ED as they grow older, age is still not a direct cause.

Chronic Erectile dysfunction is not a normal part of ageing. There is evidence of men being sexually active in their 80s.

ED is linked with age because as people get older, they are more likely to develop medical conditions. This compounds the risk of getting ED. 

These medical conditions can include things like:

• Type 2 diabetes

• A buildup of plaque in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis

• Obesity

• Low testosterone levels, or hypogonadism

• High blood pressure or hypertension

There is yet another link between erectile dysfunction and youth. Research has shown that younger men who suffered from ED were more likely to smoke cigarettes or indulged in excessive use of illegal drugs than older men with ED.

Due to the nature of the disease, there is a stigma associated with ED. In a masculine society, many young men avoid talking about their ED problems with their health care professionals. 

Our motto at iQ Doctor is to Assess and Take Action. Before we can confirm your order for any of these medications, you will need to fill out a questionnaire that requires you to fill out certain information regarding your physical and mental health. The purpose of this is to make sure that you will not have any unintended or negative side effects from taking any of the medications.  

It would help if you stopped thinking of ED as a permanent problem. With the right medicine, you too can delve into the joys of a healthy sexual life. 

You already trust your doctor with every other aspect of your health; what’s the reason to hold back information about your sexual potency from your doctor? 

You will need to face the stigma head-on and ask your doctor to diagnose your problem and suggest a suitable treatment routine. Because ED, especially in young men, can be an early indicator of potentially serious health conditions, your doctor will likely put you through several lab tests, including a testosterone level test.

Once your doctor has evaluated the test and diagnosed the reason for your ED, they can commence the proper treatment. The treatments may vary depending on the diagnosis. Your health care professional will be able to pinpoint the physical root cause of your ED. There can be several reasons for your erectile dysfunction.

In matters of the heart’s health, clogged arteries can cause ED and contribute to cardiovascular complications down the line. 

ED can also be due to diabetes, as high levels of blood glucose can damage blood vessels responsible for supplying blood to the penis during an erection.

Obesity is also another common reason for ED. It has a vicious, cyclical effect on hypertension and diabetes. This is why young overweight men need to take practical steps to lose visceral fat and achieve a suitable BMI.

Psychological Causes of Erectile Dysfunction in Young Men

There are many possibilities of the root cause of erectile dysfunction in young men. They may be suffering from a simple case of nerves as a cause for their ED, or the reason could be much more complicated.

If a young man is depressed or anxious, he could fail to become sexually aroused. This will create problems for him to sustain an erection. He might have lost his ability to engage in routinely pleasurable things, such as sexual intercourse. 

For young men, this stress can come from varying stimuli. Nowadays, an average young man is stressed about work, finances, personal relationships, etc.

Many people have issues like these today.

Imagine Robert, an aspiring store manager. He has ever-rising student debt and is barely able to make ends meet. His marriage is on shaky grounds because of his tenuous financial situation. Day by day, his self-esteem is also taking a toll.

All of these factors could be contributing to Robert’s problem of erectile dysfunction.

Young men often are at risk of turning to alcohol or drug abuse to cope with these psychological pressures.

Young men are also more likely to be affected by the emotional effects of suffering from erectile dysfunction. Some of the common adverse emotional effects would include:

• low self-esteem

• relationship problems

• emotional distress

• anxiety or stress associated with sexual activity

Due to the unfortunate stereotype of erectile dysfunction only being a problem that affects the older generations of men, young men often find it hard to open up about their ED problems with their health care professionals.

Treatments:

For young men, it is better to try non-medicated methods to solve their ED problems before moving on to more systematic, medicated solutions.

Some small but significant lifestyle changes can vastly improve a young man’s sexual life. These improvements can be:

• Drinking less alcohol

• Maintaining a healthy weight

• Exercising regularly

• Quitting smoking

• Consuming a healthy diet

• Improving the amount and quality of sleep

If the steps mentioned earlier don’t solve your ED problems as a young man, then you might have to resort to medicated methods of solving ED. A doctor will prescribe you one of three medicines, all of which are available for sale at iQ Doctor. These medicines are:

Sildenafil (also known as Viagra)

avanafil (also known as Stendra)

tadalafil (also known as Cialis)

These are all tried and tested medicines that doctors have been prescribing to men for decades now as a way to solve their erectile dysfunction problems. So if you’ve tried eating healthy and exercising but still can’t get rid of your ED problem, start browsing our catalogue of erectile dysfunction products today and get just what the doctor prescribed. Go to iQ Doctor today and get started with taking the proper medication that your doctor prescribes you for erectile dysfunction.

Our customers have nothing but good things to say about us. 

 For example, Jim was one such customer who was satisfied with our quality of service.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better solution than iQ Doctor. They gave me the mental and medical push that I needed to get back into the dating pool. My previous incidents of erectile dysfunction were always embarrassing moments. But ever since I started using the ED products sold on iQ Doctor, all my problems in the bedroom have gone away completely. Thanks iQ Doctor!”