Common, generally treated, sometimes indicative of a cardiovascular problem: erectile dysfunction nevertheless remains surrounded by silence and false beliefs. As World Sexual Health Day approaches, September 4, a study reminds us how dialogue with a doctor can be decisive.
There is what men experience. And what they dare to say about it. When an erection becomes difficult to obtain or maintain, many prefer to wait, minimize the problem or look elsewhere for explanations. Age, stress, fatigue… These factors can indeed play a role. But they don’t sum up the question.
An investigation carried out by Kano.care and Appinio among 1,000 men precisely highlights this gap between the reality of erectile dysfunction and the perception that the French have of it. Published on the occasion of World Sexual Health Day, it highlights four particularly persistent preconceived ideas.
“I’m probably one of the only ones”: when shame starts with a bad estimate
First lesson from the study: erectile dysfunction is significantly more common than the men interviewed imagine.
38% say they have already experienced erectile dysfunction. However, 52% think that fewer than three in ten men are affected during their lifetime. This discrepancy may seem trivial. He is not.
When an intimate problem seems rare, the person experiencing it may have the feeling of being an exception. As if his body was functioning “less well” than that of others. A perception that can reinforce the embarrassment and make it even more difficult to talk about it.
However, erectile dysfunction is a common health problem. And above all, it alone says nothing about a man’s value, his desire or his relationship with his partner.
Sometimes the first step is simply to understand that you are not alone.
Behind a sexual problem can also hide a cardiovascular issue
The other lack of knowledge is more medical.
Erectile dysfunction can be associated with vascular and cardiovascular problems. However, alone 25% of men surveyed know that a link may exist between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular health.
Men cite age or stress more often when looking for an explanation.
This lack of knowledge is important, because the mechanisms of erection depend in particular on the proper functioning of blood vessels. A persistent difficulty can therefore, in certain cases, constitute a signal which merits medical evaluation, particularly when it appears without obvious explanation or is accompanied by other cardiovascular risk factors.
This obviously does not mean that erectile dysfunction necessarily heralds cardiovascular disease. But it deserves not to be systematically trivialized.
And this is precisely where the medical consultation takes on its full meaning.
“It can’t really be cured”: a belief that fuels renunciation
Another paradox revealed by the study: while erectile dysfunction can be treated in the vast majority of cases, men remain very uncertain about the treatment possibilities. Alone 21% consider them easy to treat. Even more worrying, 41% do not know if they can be treated.
This uncertainty may be enough to delay a consultation. Why talk about an intimate problem if you think no solution exists?
The reality is more nuanced. Erectile dysfunction can have multiple causes: vascular, hormonal, neurological, psychological, medicinal or even linked to certain diseases. Treatment therefore depends on its origin and the situation of each patient.
The doctor can help resolve the situation: look for a possible cause, assess the risk factors and discuss appropriate solutions.
Viagra, Cialis… why the treatments are still poorly understood
Even when they are aware of the medications available, some men have an incorrect representation of them.
According to the investigation, 36% believe that erectile dysfunction medications, such as Viagra or Cialis, automatically trigger an erection. That’s not how they work.
These treatments facilitate the physiological mechanism of erection, but they do not automatically lead to an erection in the absence of sexual arousal. This distinction may seem technical. However, it is essential to understand what we can really expect from a treatment.
Poor understanding can lead to disappointment or even stopping treatment thinking it is not working.
Hence the importance of a medical prescription and explanation adapted to each situation.
A consultation can remove much of the uncertainty
One of the most interesting results of the study ultimately concerns the role of the doctor. Men who have already consulted are
significantly better informed about erectile dysfunction, its treatability, how treatments work and potential risks.
The contrast is particularly marked among the men concerned. Among those who have never consulted, 42% do not know if their disorder can be treated. Among those who consulted a doctor, this proportion drops to 11%.
In other words, information does not only seem to be lacking: it becomes much more accessible once a medical dialogue is initiated.
“These preconceived ideas are above all the product of the taboo which still surrounds male sexual health. This is precisely why the role of the doctor is so important, especially on intimate subjects: he brings facts and objectivity where the lack of dialogue has allowed a whole set of misunderstandings and false expectations to take hold. The priority, particularly on World Sexual Health Day, must be to remove the obstacles that prevent you from taking the first step. The sooner a man dares to talk about it, the sooner we can act.”explains Dr Sam Ward, urologist and medical director of Kano.care.
A medical word which may seem simple, but which sometimes constitutes the real starting point of treatment. Because behind a sexual difficulty, there is not only a question of performance or intimacy. There may be suffering, a loss of confidence, a weakened relationship, but also, in certain cases, a health problem which deserves to be investigated.
Breaking the silence doesn’t solve everything. But this at least allows you to no longer face the problem alone. And, for a disorder as common as erectile dysfunction, it is probably one of the first treatments to combat preconceived ideas.