Reverse erectile dysfunction with lifestyle changes

Reduce weight, improve nutrition, exercise more, drink less alcohol and have a better night's sleep to bring sexual pleasure back in life without medication, a promising research shows.

Men suffering from sexual dysfunction can be successful at reversing their problem by focusing on lifestyle factors and not just relying on medication, according to researchers at University of Adelaide.

"From a clinical point of view, the inability of some men to perform sexually can also be linked to a range of other health problems many of which can be debilitating or potentially fatal," explained professor Gary Wittert from University of Adelaide.

The major risk factors for erectile dysfunction are typically physical conditions rather than psychological ones, such as being overweight or obese, a higher level of alcohol intake, having sleeping difficulties or obstructive sleep apnea, and age.

"Our study found that a large proportion of men were naturally overcoming erectile dysfunction issues. This shows that many of these factors affecting men are modifiable, offering them an opportunity to do something about their condition," Wittert commented.

Researchers highlighted the incidence of erectile dysfunction and lack of sexual desire among Australian men aged 35-80 years.

Over a five-year period, 31 percent of 810 men involved in the study developed some form of erectile dysfunction.

"Even when medication to help with erectile function is required, it is likely to be considerably more effective if lifestyle factors are also addressed," added Sean Martin from University of Adelaide's Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health.

Erectile dysfunction can be a very serious issue because it is a marker of underlying cardiovascular disease, and it often occurs before heart conditions become apparent, the researchers noted in a paper published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.