{"id":3674,"date":"2014-01-17T12:42:57","date_gmt":"2014-01-17T12:42:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.doctorfox.co.uk\/news\/?p=3674"},"modified":"2022-01-05T11:15:32","modified_gmt":"2022-01-05T11:15:32","slug":"why-you-shouldnt-be-embarrassed-by-erectile-dysfunction","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.doctorfox.co.uk\/news\/why-you-shouldnt-be-embarrassed-by-erectile-dysfunction\/","title":{"rendered":"Why you shouldn\u2019t be embarrassed by erectile dysfunction (ED)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last updated 5 January 2022<\/small><\/p>

\"manThe recent news coverage of a doctor who forged prescriptions of Viagra<\/a> because he was too embarrassed to go to his GP, has highlighted the stigma often attached to erectile dysfunction.<\/p>\n

The doctor, who worked at Ystrad Fawr Hospital, faked \u00a3340.67 worth of prescriptions because he was going through \u2018marital difficulties\u2019.\u00a0 Staff became suspicious because he worked in an orthopaedic unit where patients would not need Viagra.<\/p>\n

He was ordered by the court to pay \u00a3347 for the Viagra and \u00a32,561 for the cost of the NHS investigation.<\/p>\n

The case raises the ongoing dilemma of men who suffer from ED. It\u2019s also reasonable to suggest that, if a doctor is embarrassed about it, then a lot of other men suffering from impotence are too.<\/p>\n

Facing up to the ED dilemma<\/h2>\n

90% of men do not seek treatment – but ED is nothing to be embarrassed about.\u00a0 Although some men see it as humiliating or a lessening of their status as a man, ED is a common problem for a lot of men.<\/p>\n

For many men, initiating the first conversation about it is the most difficult step. No man likes to admit he can\u2019t get a hard-on. The answer, then, is to choose an approach that you\u2019re comfortable with, such as saying you\u2019d like to talk to your GP about a sexual health concern rather than blatantly saying you\u2019re having trouble getting an erection.<\/p>\n

A general consultation will usually involve answering a series of questions about your symptoms and a few simple tests and physical examinations.<\/p>\n

Here are a few good reasons why you really shouldn\u2019t be embarrassed about suffering from impotence.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s more common than you think<\/h2>\n

The inability to get and maintain an erection during sexual intercourse, ED is particularly prevalent in older men. It\u2019s estimated that half of all men between 40 and 70 suffer from ED to a greater or lesser degree. Younger men are affected by ED as well, and it\u2019s been suggested that 75% of men will experience ED at some point in their lives.<\/p>\n

Your partner will be supportive<\/h2>\n

Talking about ED with your partner<\/a> may be as uncomfortable and awkward for them as it is for you, but the chances are it won\u2019t be a shock to them. Acknowledging the problem and communicating is the best way of confronting it, and voicing your fears, frustrations and anxieties will release your feelings and emotions and enable you to deal with it.\u00a0 With the love of a strong and supportive partner, you can deal with ED together.<\/p>\n

Your GP has heard it all before<\/h2>\n

You might feel uncomfortable talking about it, but your GP has heard it all before.\u00a0 It\u2019s a personal, embarrassing topic of conversation, no question, but you\u2019re certainly not the first person in the world to suffer from ED.<\/p>\n

The temptation might also be to get your visit to the doctor over as quickly as possible, but it\u2019s a good idea to take a list of questions to eliminate any doubt, so you feel more informed about impotence and to give you peace of mind. Questions could include:<\/p>\n