Doesn't Matter What You Do, ED Could Happen To You

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been an identified problem for several decades now. When Viagra was released in 1998, most people believed that the number of men with ED would decline over the years. However, with the world’s ever increasing population, environmental problems, and new medical conditions at present, that prediction does not seem to be happening.

ED has been attributed to a patient’s age, previous health problems, lifestyle habits, and mental wellness. There is no known way of preventing ED, although there are several methods to diagnose it. There is no 100% effective cure for ED, but there are many products and procedures available that help remedy the condition.

In the United States, according to a 1994 Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS), the prevalence of all degrees of impotence is 52%. The prevalence of men with moderate impotence is 25.5%, minimal ED at 17.2%, and complete ED at 9.6%.  The MMAS found that prevalence of impotence increases with age for subjects between the ages of 40 to 70 years old. Data from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) approximate that 5% of 40-year-old men in the US have ED, while 15 to 25% of 65-year-old men have ED.

In 1999, an international journal on urology published a study on the predicted prevalence of impotence worldwide. The research used data on male populations from the United Nations, and prevalence rates of ED by the MMAS. They predicted the trend of ED around the world from 1995 to year 2025. The research aimed to provide information on how impotence can impact the world in the future, and what policies should be implemented to prepare for it.

From the study, the estimated prevalence of ED in 1995 was 152 million. It indicates how many men around the world have ED at that time. Based on those statistics, Asia has 80.9 million men with ED, followed by Europe with 30.9 million. North America, Africa, and South America follow, with 11.9, 11.5, and 10.5 million respectively. By 2025, the worldwide figure would have more than doubled to 322 million. Asian men with ED would have grown to almost 200 million, Europe with 42.8 million, and Africa takes third place with 30.8 million. South America will have 26.1 million, while North America had the least increase with 21 million by 2025.

Another international study in 2003, published in the journal Urology, was conducted to examine the epidemiology of ED in four countries, Brazil, Italy, Japan, and Malaysia. From their data, the percentage of men in Japan with moderate to complete ED was 34%. Malaysia has 22%, while Italy and Brazil have 17% and 15%, respectively. They also found out that the trend for ED was age-specific, meaning, as the age group gets older by a year, the percentage of men with ED increases by 10%.

So, as you can see, even scientific experts would agree. ED is a worldwide situation, and the condition is not restricted to the United States alone. Most of the data from their censuses conclude that as one gets older, his risk for getting ED, no matter what degree it is, increases. This is not a cause for alarm. The studies done should allow patients to be informed and prepared for such conditions. With the many treatment options available, ED can be overcome.