MEN’S HEALTH 93
First, there’s the penis’s capacity to
retain blood. Failure here is common, and
this is known as the inability to maintain an
erection. There can also be hitches getting
the blood there in the first place – often
tied to cardiovascular issues or metabolic
syndrome. Physical trauma to the groin, or
nerve compression (as a result of too much
cycling, say), can have an effect, too.
So, is there an epidemic of young men
getting kicked where it hurts? “I have
guys – some as young as 18 – telling me
things like, ‘My dick’s broken,’” says Dr
Nick Knight, a GP. “They’ve had one or
more experiences of not being able to get
an erection, and they’re worried. This is
becoming common.” But nine times out
of 10, looking for a physical explanation
for ED in a young man is barking up the
wrong diagnostic tree. “Their penises
aren’t broken. That’s more likely in older
men, who might smoke, have diabetes or
be on medication. It’s something else.”Mind Games
Popular culture often presents ED as
a joke. For this, we can, in part, thank the
ill-considered “sad man with his head
in his hands next to his disappointed
wife” image on cigarette packets and
medical pamphlets in recent years. These
depictions have perpetuated the narrative
that to be unable to achieve an erection
somehow makes you less of a man –
regardless of whether you’re a 20-a-day
smoker or just seriously ill.
That’s doubly problematic when you
consider what many experts believe is the
true cause of ED’s rise. “It simply cannot
be a coincidence that there is also an
epidemic of mental health issues in young
men,” says Dr Knight. “I’d be fascinated
to know, of those people presenting with
ED, how many are also suffering from
a mental health problem,” he says. “I
would wager the number is high.”
Dr Knight would be given poor odds
if the bookies had an eye on the clinics.
“There has definitely been an increased
uptake of psychosexual therapy services,”
says Kate Moyle, a counsellor specialising
in this area. “Young men make up a large
proportion of those seeking advice,
and we are also seeing high numbers
struggling with erectile dysfunction
and rapid or delayed ejaculation.”
That is important. Your psyche holds
your penis as if by a marionette string. As
soon as you start to over-analyse things,
it can be game over: stress and anxiety
are the ultimate mood killers. “Men I see£13m
THE VALUE OF ILLEGAL
ED DRUGS INTERCEPTED
BY UK BORDER POLICE IN
2018 – OVER FOUR-FIFTHS OF THE WORTH
OF ALL ILLEGAL MEDS SEIZED LAST YEAR
Erectile Dysfunction
FOR MOST MEN, ERECTILE
PROBLEMS ARE A THORNY
AND DELICATE MATTER