ED takes its toll on men’s mental well-being

Erectile dysfunction (ED) affects not only sexual health but also has an impact on mental well-being.

Dr. Jose Albert Reyes, president of the Philippine Society for the Study of the Aging Male (PHISSAM), said majority of men with ED say the condition makes them anxious and depressed, and diminishes their self-confidence. A quarter of them say their condition make them feel unattractive.

According to Reyes, who spoke at the recent convention of the Philippine Academy of Family Physicians, about 80 percent of men with ED experience some form of relationship problems because of their condition.

"The emotional and mental stress caused by erection problems can mean that men avoid intimate situations with a partner," said Reyes.

Despite available treatment for ED, only less than a third of men with erection problems seek medical help.

"On average it can take a man with ED 28 months before he even starts to do anything about the problem," Reyes said.

Most of them defer medical consultation because either they are embarrassed to discuss about the problem or they think that ED is a normal part of aging.

Advances in technology and research have paved the way for the development of successful treatment for ED such as sildenafil citrate.

Sildenafil citrate is the first oral treatment for erectile dysfunction that has been found to be effective and well-tolerated in over 100 completed and ongoing clinical studies.

To better address ED and other health concerns among more people, a program will soon be launched to encourage more men to consult with their physicians and maintain good health.

This health information is brought by Pfizer, a global, research-based healthcare company that discovers, develops, manufactures and markets effective and innovative medicines for humans and animals, and many of the best-known consumer products.

In 2004, Pfizer, the world’s largest private biomedical research organization, invested more than $7.5 billion to find cures to help preserve, protect and promote the quality of life of people all over the world.