Common Myths about Erectile Dysfunction

Myth: Erectile dysfunction only affects men over 70 years.
Fact: Generally erectile dysfunction occurs in men over 40 years and older. Prevalence increases with age and associated health problems.7
Fact: Generally erectile dysfunction occurs in men over 40 years and older. Prevalence increases with age and associated health problems.7
Myth: ED is only a physical issue and has no psychological component.
Fact: ED can have both physical and psychological components. Psychological factors, including stress, anxiety, and depression, can contribute to or worsen ED.8
Fact: ED can have both physical and psychological components. Psychological factors, including stress, anxiety, and depression, can contribute to or worsen ED.8
Myth: ED means that a man is less masculine.
Fact: ED is a medical condition and does not reflect a man’s masculinity or worth. It is a common issue, and it does not define a man’s identity or value in any way.9
Fact: ED is a medical condition and does not reflect a man’s masculinity or worth. It is a common issue, and it does not define a man’s identity or value in any way.9
Myth: Erectile Dysfunction is only related to advanced age
Fact: Though aging is an important cause contributing to ED, other health conditions such as heart diseases, increased blood pressure, diabetes mellitus etc. also play a significant role. Certain medications, lifestyle choices, and psychological factors can also contribute to development of ED.7
Fact: Though aging is an important cause contributing to ED, other health conditions such as heart diseases, increased blood pressure, diabetes mellitus etc. also play a significant role. Certain medications, lifestyle choices, and psychological factors can also contribute to development of ED.7

Erection Problems (EPs): A part of life3

If you can’t get or keep an erection hard enough for sex, you might have erection problems (EPs). Doctors call this condition erectile dysfunction (ED). Erection problems can be experienced in different ways. Some men:

  • Don’t get an erection at all
  • Get an erection that isn’t hard enough for sex
  • Get an erection but can’t keep it long enough for sex

For some men with EPs it’s difficult to get or keep an erection every time they try to have sex. For others, EPs can happen every once in a while.

Learn more about erection problems
Learn more about erection problems

As per Indian studies

  • The prevalence of Erectile dysfunction is 17 to 48% and Premature ejaculation is 18 to 43%6.
  • Higher prevalence in the 40-60 years age group.
  • Higher prevalence of ED is seen among patients with Diabetes varies between 20% and 78%5.
  • 43.3% of patients with >10-year duration of T2DM suffered from ED6.
  • 23.2% of patients with <5-year duration of T2DM had ED6.

Find the right specialist for effective treatment tailored to your needs!

  • Andrologist: Focuses on hormonal and reproductive health causes of ED.
  • Urologist: Treats structural or systemic issues affecting ED.
  • Sexologist: Addresses psychological and intimacy-related factors of ED.
Find a physician

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References

  1. Erectile dysfunction. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/erectiledysfunction.html. Accessed May 2015.
  2. Shabsigh R, Lue TF. A Clinician’s Guide to ED Management. New York: Haymarket Media Inc.; 2006.
  3. Sexual health - Erectile dysfunction patient guide by American urology association 2021.
  4. Erectile dysfunction (ED). American Urological Association. https://www.auanet.org/meetings-and-education/for-medical-students/medical-students-curriculum/ed. American Urological Association Web site. Accessed January 21, 2013.
  5. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4572994/ Accessed on 13th Feb 2025.
  6. Singh AK, Kant S, Abdulkader RS, Lohiya A, Silan V, Nongkynrih B, et al. Prevalence and correlates of sexual health disorders among adult men in a rural area of North India: An observational study. J Family Med Prim Care 2018;7:515-21.
  7. Leslie, S. W., & Sooriyamoorthy, T. (2024). Erectile dysfunction. In StatPearls [Internet]. StatPearls from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK562253/ accessed on 12/03/2025
  8. Dewitte, M., et al. (2021). A psychosocial approach to erectile dysfunction: Position statements from the European Society of Sexual Medicine (ESSM). Sexual Medicine, 9(6), 100434.
  9. Sand, M. S., Fisher, W., Rosen, R., Heiman, J., & Eardley, I. (2008). Erectile dysfunction and constructs of masculinity and quality of life in the multinational Men's Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (MALES) study. The Journal of Sexual Medicine, 5(3), 583–594.

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