What to know
- One in three ED discussions online focus on medication or treatment options.
- Anxiety is a more common emotion than shame or embarrassment among men discussing ED.
- Younger men (18-29) report the most negative experiences, while older men are more positive.
- Experts say ED can signal broader health issues, so it’s important to seek medical advice, not just online support.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) has long been a taboo topic for men, but now, data reveals many are breaking the silence by sharing their struggles anonymously online, and an expert shares his tips.
Drawing from 8,000 posts and comments from two of Reddit’s largest men’s health communities, a MedExpress Canada study reveals what men say on erectile dysfunction when the stigma is removed behind the anonymity of Reddit.
Here are the key findings:
- One in three ED discussions centre on medication or treatment.
- The word “anxiety” appeared 432 times, outpacing “embarrassed,” showing up 95 times, and “shame” showing up 55 times.
- Men aged 18-29 showed the most negative average sentiment, while men 60-plus were more positive.
- The word “porn” appeared 644 times.
- The term “PIED” (Porn-Induced Erectile Dysfunction) came up 53 times.
Chief Medical Officer at MedExpress Canada, Dr. Karim Vellani, dissects what these numbers mean and what it reveals about men experiencing erectile dysfunction.
”The most evident finding is that men are showing up to solve a problem, not to hide one,” Vellani told Now Toronto. “While there is still some stigma, it doesn’t prevent men from seeking solutions if they feel no shame about doing so.”
With anxiety appearing far more often than words like “shame” or “embarrassment,” the finding confirms “the emotional aspect of erectile dysfunction is anxiety, not just embarrassment,” Vellani said. “It can be related to performance issues, relationship problems, and fear for their health.”
Why do younger men have a negative sentiment toward an ED?
Men aged 18-29 had the most negative sentiment in the study, and Vellani explained it could be due to that age range’s first time experiencing an ED.
“For a young man who experiences ED, it can seem to be a permanent problem, while, in reality, it is situational. It can be caused by stress, anxiety, alcohol use or even porn habits,” he explained.
While older men are much more positive, as they understand it’s a common and manageable condition.
So, Vellani comforts people experiencing an ED for the first time to understand that one experience does not define a pattern, and to resist the urge to self-diagnose based on forums or assumptions about their habits. Instead, he suggests consulting a doctor to identify the underlying cause.
Why is it important to consult a doctor?
Vellani explained that ED drugs are not a permanent solution, so it’s important to find the psychological or physical origin behind the condition.
ED can sometimes also be an early warning sign of other health conditions.
“ED may be one of the earliest physical symptoms that manifest during heart diseases due to the small size of the blood vessels used in ED, which tend to get damaged before other blood vessels,” Vellani said. “It is also known to signal the early stage of diabetes, hypertension, or low testosterone levels.”
Other reasons men can get erectile dysfunction
Porn-Induced-Erectile-Dysfunction (PIED) is one of the reasons, and was mentioned 53 times in the study, though it shouldn’t be stigmatized.
“The more openly doctors and patients can discuss porn use as a potential contributing factor without judgment, the sooner men get the right support,” he explained.
Lifestyle is also one of the causes behind erectile dysfunction, so Vellani shares some lifestyle changes to improve its function.
- “Cardiovascular exercises have the best evidence in research since ED is fundamentally a vascular issue for many men, and anything that improves circulation helps,” he said.
- Reducing the consumption of alcohol.
- To stop smoking.
- To lose weight.
- Improve sleep quality.
