Most men with erectile dysfunction are wasting their time and should seek proper treatment as early as possible.

**Article 29**

**Most men with erectile dysfunction are wasting their time.**

**Case Study**

**Name: Sun Lixian (pseudonym), 40 years old**

**Region: Chengdu, Sichuan**

**Occupation: Tourism Industry**

Sun Lixian has lived in Chengdu for over 20 years. He was married before, but divorced five years ago due to marital discord. He has since remarried but has no children. His current job is relatively easy; he is mainly responsible for the overall sales planning of a travel agency, focusing solely on Sichuan Province. He delegates most of the more strenuous tasks to his subordinates.

About four or five years ago, he felt his sexual function begin to decline. He often talked about it with his friends and male colleagues and found that many people of similar age were experiencing a decline in sexual function.

At first, I was a little nervous and worried that there would be problems, but I was able to satisfy my wife a few times. However, the decline in my performance was quite obvious, and I also felt guilty towards my wife.

Because I have a strong interest in and belief in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), I tried many TCM prescriptions to tonify my kidneys. For a while, whenever a friend recommended a Chinese medicine or food that seemed effective, such as cordyceps capsules or "male enhancement oil," I would buy and consume them. In the end, I found that these were just ways to comfort myself. However, I'm hesitant to see a doctor, fearing I might have erectile dysfunction and receive an incurable diagnosis.

Jiang Hui, director of the Department of Andrology at Peking University Third Hospital: There are far too many male patients like Mr. Sun in our clinic who cannot correctly understand and treat erectile dysfunction. The results of the "2011 China Q-SEXQ (Erectile Dysfunction Treatment Outcome and Improvement of Sexual Life Quality) Survey" organized by the Andrology Branch of the Chinese Medical Association show that about 54% of patients with erectile dysfunction do not receive regular and timely treatment. In other words, most patients with erectile dysfunction are doing useless work.

This survey, conducted from April to December 2011, surveyed 1,956 male patients at 53 urology and andrology clinics in 15 cities including Beijing and Shanghai. Among them, 61% of patients with erectile dysfunction were between 30 and 50 years old, with an average age of onset of two years; urban white-collar men constituted a large proportion.

Many respondents indicated that their erectile dysfunction was largely related to their work and lifestyle habits. The most common factors included dealing with sexual fatigue and neglecting to address initial sexual failures.

Male penile erection hardness is graded on a four-level scale. Men over 40, especially those experiencing high work and life stress, often see their erections decline from level four to level three. At this stage, many mistakenly believe it's due to a general decline in bodily function and don't seek treatment. After one or two failed sexual encounters, they are prone to developing an avoidance mentality. This, coupled with women's increased sexual desire before menopause, makes poor communication between partners even more likely to lead to sexual failure.

In fact, at this stage, excluding other underlying medical conditions, patients with erectile dysfunction should receive timely and proper treatment. If phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitors are effective with currently available anti-erectile dysfunction medications, they should be taken as needed. Many patients with erectile dysfunction significantly affected by psychological factors experience excellent results with PDE5 inhibitors, and the earlier they are started, the better the effect.

Many people misunderstand the use of medication to restore erectile function; in reality, it's often psychological. When learning to ride a bicycle, fear of falling causes nervousness, diverting attention from preventing falls rather than focusing on balancing. If someone supports the bicycle from behind, the student's attention can be fully focused on mastering the technique of balancing, allowing them to learn to ride quickly.

Treating erectile dysfunction caused by psychological stress is similar to learning to ride a bicycle. With the help of Viagra, a medication for treating erectile dysfunction, and after several successful sexual encounters, a man's self-confidence will greatly increase, and the tension and anxiety before intercourse will gradually disappear, naturally leading to the ability to achieve an erection.

Furthermore, after drug treatment, the penis will develop a kind of fullness memory. Even after stopping the medication, when encountering sexual stimulation, it will gradually become fuller to the level it was after taking the medication, thereby eliminating the symptoms of erectile dysfunction.