Ah, erectile dysfunction – the elephant in the bedroom that no one wants to talk about but nearly everyone has an opinion on. As a urologist and sexual health expert, it never ceases to surprise me how little men know about their hard-ons. But how can I blame them with so much misinformation out there about what constitutes normal erectile function and the myths that continue to propagate about ED? Now in practice for nearly 10 years, I’ve heard it all when it comes to erections: from the mildly amusing to the downright absurd. Well, it’s time to clear the air, bust some myths, and get real about ED.
What follows is a list of common myths I hear from my patients almost every day. It’s my hope that when you finish reading, you’ll have a better understanding of erections and be able to accurately distinguish between ED fact and fiction.
Myth 1: ED is rare.
This myth may be the most damaging of them all. Men who experience erectile dysfunction often think they’re alone, which compounds the shame they may feel and discourages them from seeking help. Let’s set the record straight: ED is neither rare nor something to be embarrassed about. The numbers don’t lie: around 30 million men in the United States deal with erectile dysfunction. Globally, that number skyrockets into the hundreds of millions. Estimates of the prevalence of ED range from 9% to 40% of men by age 40, and generally increase by 10% with each decade thereafter. It’s estimated that 1 in 4 men will experience ED at some point in their life.
The condition of ED is as common as it is misunderstood, but the perception of rarity stems from the fact that men just don’t talk about it. For many men, ED feels like a blow to their masculinity. Society places so much emphasis on sexual performance as a marker of male identity that struggling with it can feel like failing at something fundamental. This toxic narrative is not only untrue but also incredibly harmful. This stigma is perpetuated by unrealistic portrayals of male virility in pop culture. Think about it: movies and TV shows depict men as always ready, always capable, and never facing challenges in the bedroom. Reality? Not so much. Life is messy, bodies are unpredictable, and nobody operates at 100% all the time.
Myth 2: ED only happens to older men.
If I had a nickel for every time I heard this, I’d have retired on a beach by now. This myth might be one of the biggest barriers preventing younger men from recognizing and addressing ED. The cultural stereotype is clear: ED is something that only happens after a man retires, starts wearing loafers with socks, and has a cabinet full of medications. But the truth is ED does not discriminate by age.
While it’s true that ED becomes more common with age – about 40% of men over 40 and 70% of men over 70 experience it – younger men are far from being immune. Research shows that 1 in 4 men seeking treatment for ED are under 40. Yes, you read that right: a quarter of all men who consult a doctor about ED are young, often in their 20s or 30s. And some younger men may experience ED even before their first sexual encounters. This means ED isn’t just about aging – it’s about a variety of physical, psychological, and lifestyle factors that can strike at any point in life.