The health taboo affecting 6.4 million men

HE’S the A&E doctor who failed to find love in The Villa, but Love Island’s Dr George is on a mission.

Alongside battling coronavirus on the frontline at hospital, the 31-yearold medic says he’s hoping to help open up the conversation around impotence, as new statistics from Lloyds Pharmacy (lloydspharmacy. com) reveal around 6.4 million men in the UK have erection problems at some point in their lives.

Here, he explains everything men need to know...

What is erectile dysfunction?

“ERECTILE dysfunction is where a man isn’t able to attain and maintain an erection that’s firm enough to be able to have sex. Some men might be able to get an erection for a short period of time, but can’t maintain it long enough to have satisfactory sex with a partner, while others might not be able to get an erection at all.

“It ranges from person to person, but it’s a very common health issue. “A huge number of younger men are affected, so I think it’s important to break down that stigma and get people to realise that it’s more common that you think.

“There’s a misconception that there must be something wrong with your masculinity if you experience it, and that’s just not the case.”

What causes erectile dysfunction?

“CERTAIN lifestyle factors can have an effect. Alcohol is a big one.

“Causes can also be split between physical and psychological. Fatigue, tiredness, anxiousness and stress can all have a knock-on effect for men in the short-term. Some people can also get a longer-term form of anxiety, where being worried about sex and fears about under-performing can trigger erectile dysfunction.

“To get an erection, what essentially happens is your brain sends signals via nerves to your penis, which tells your blood vessels to dilate. Blood then collects into the penis, and that’s what makes it firm. “Physically, if you have problems with your nerves, or the ability to dilate blood vessels, then you can have problems with erections. The common causes are issues with circulation, cardiovascular problems, issues with blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. So there are lots of causes, but the vast majority of the time, it’s down to lifestyle factors.”

How can it be treated?

“THERE’S lots that men can do. Eating a healthy diet, doing more exercise, sleeping better, de-stressing and moderating alcohol intake are a few lifestyle factors that can all make a big difference.

“If you’re having a persistent issue, you should speak to your doctor.

“There’s medication available, which helps men to get an erection, but often other treatments – like talking therapies and counselling can resolve performance fears.

■ Dr Alex George is supporting LloydsPharmacy’s It’s Time We TalkED campaign. To find out more, visit onlinedoctor.lloydspharmacy. com