Transcript of
Erectile dysfunction
Erectile dysfunction, which is often actually still called impotence,
is when a man struggles, finds it difficult to get an erection
or indeed to keep an erection
so that he can masturbate or have sex.
Incredibly common problem,
affects round about one in ten men on a frequent basis,
on a long-term basis,
but most men will suffer a degree of erectile dysfunction from time to time,
and when it's infrequent like that,
the result of too much alcohol, the fact that he's tired,
maybe he just wasn't in the mood for sex,
it's not a problem.
If it's happening on an ongoing basis,
affecting his love life, affecting his emotional state of mind,
worrying him, keeping him awake at night, making him feel depressed,
then clearly it's a problem and it needs advice and help.
I was warned in advance, before I had surgery,
that there would be some pretty devastating consequences
to prostate cancer surgery.
I was mentally prepared,
but even so, it's pretty devastating.
As my health improved,
so, in fact, then ED became much more of an important problem
which needed to be tackled.
I think the first port of call is your doctor.
If somebody is feeling a bit embarrassed
about talking about this problem with a female doctor,
then for heaven's sake ask to speak to a male doctor about it.
The doctor, male or female, won't be embarrassed about it,
so there's no need for the individual guy to feel embarrassed either.
In fact I would reassure men that lots more men are coming to see their doctor
saying, "I'm having problems with erections"
or "I'm having problems in the bedroom department, doc."
"What can be done about it?"
However embarrassed you feel,
however reluctant, reticent you feel,
if you can take that first step, go to your GP.
You must, must, must do it
because there's help out there, there really is,
and you must not give up hope.
The most important way that erectile dysfunction can be resolved
is having a look at your lifestyle.
So cutting down alcohol, not smoking, certainly not using recreational drugs,
trying to get more rest, relaxation and sleep
so that you're not feeling so tired.
Talk to your partner about it, obviously,
because some of the misunderstandings contribute to erectile dysfunction.
Get those misunderstandings out of the way, erections come back.
Psychosexual counselling is available and a good port of call
and nowadays we have effective tablet treatments
that can help men overcome erectile dysfunction.
Things will never be as they were,
but they can be a hell of a lot better than they might have been
if I hadn't sought any help.
Whereas for some guys for whom ED is maybe a temporary thing,
providing they stick their hand up and say, "Yes, there is a problem
but I don't have feel guilty about it
and I don't actually have to get depressed about it,
I will do something about it,"
then there's no reason why things
can't not only be back to where they were, but better.
If you are suffering
with recurrent, ongoing problems with erectile dysfunction,
then don't sit at home worrying about it,
seek advice from your GP
because nowadays not only do we have very effective treatments
to help men overcome the problem, whatever their age,
but also erectile dysfunction may be a symptom
of an underlying problem like high blood pressure or diabetes,
and of course everybody knows how important it is
to treat those conditions.
