Lockdown lotharios? Not quite...
More men suffering bedroom woes
AN INCREASE in men seeking help for sexual problems has been seen following the lockdown.
Experts warn men have been drinking and eating too much, while suffering from stress and anxiety which can affect their performance in the bedroom.
High street chemist Superdrug says its online doctor service has seen demand for erectile dysfunction services rise by 13 per cent this month compared to May.
Online searches on the subject are at their highest in a year. Professor David Ralph, former president of the British Society for Sexual Medicine and a consultant urologist at University College London Hospitals NHS Trust, said: ‘We know some people are putting on weight during lockdown, which has an effect on erectile dysfunction, and can lower testosterone.
‘Feeling anxious over relationship problems or financial worries can also affect sexual performance, as can drinking more alcohol, which many are doing. There may be men who did not realise they had a sexual problem because there were not enough hours in the day before.
‘This is like a holiday where people are having more sex, so are more likely to notice.’
Around one in five men suffer from impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, evidence suggests. It is more common in older men, but can also afflict those struggling with psychological and emotional issues.
King’s College London researchers reported this week that a quarter of men have found lockdown stressful, with 43 per cent saying they felt more depressed and anxious than usual. Online doctor Zava UK has reported an 18 per cent rise in sales of Viagra since singleadult households were able to
‘Stress or too much alcohol’
form ‘ support bubbles’ with other households in England, allowing some couples who live apart to have sex again.
Dr Zoe Williams, a London GP and television presenter who also works with Superdrug, said: ‘Erectile problems are common, and are usually caused by stress, tiredness, anxiety or drinking too much alcohol – all risk factors which have been exacerbated, in many cases, by the recent Covid-19 lockdown.’
She added: ‘In most cases erectile dysfunction is nothing to worry about, but if it persists, then it may be caused by physical or psychological problems.’
Professor Ralph said: ‘If men are noticing a problem for the first time, then it might be time to go and get it investigated, as there may be an underlying health problem such as cardiovascular disease.’ Meanwhile, research has suggested that a third of Britons have enjoyed their time spent under lockdown.
Those who are aged 30-59, have higher incomes and live with others have enjoyed it the most. More than 70,000 people were questioned weekly by researchers over the past 14 weeks.
Lead author Dr Daisy Fancourt, from University College London, said: ‘Of the third of people who report enjoying lockdown, a large number have higher household incomes and live with others or children, suggesting these people may have been less affected by the economic and social restrictions.’