Awareness and understanding of Erectile Dysfunction is high among Malaysians but more than half of respondents would not seek healthcare practitioners

Thanks to a kind invitation , yours truly git to learn some new things about erectile dysfunction, a problem some men face in life… it was definitely an interesting and fascinating topic and which could be treated …


So, A. Menarini Singapore Pte Ltd (Malaysia Branch) conducted an online survey on the general understanding and awareness of erectile dysfunction (ED) among Malaysians recently…

For those of you who are wondering what it is, ED is defined as the persistent inability to attain and maintain an erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual performance. In the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, it was found that among sexually active Malaysian men aged 18 and above, 47.1% had probable mild ED and 31.6% had probable moderate to severe ED.

 

According to the survey conducted by A. Menarini, 87.9% of respondents understood the meaning of erectile dysfunction and identifed the common symptoms and causes of ED. However, the survey also revealed that 41.5% responded that it was somewhat unlikely for them to see a health practitioner despite struggling with ED. Thus, despite the general awareness and understanding about ED is there, many Malaysians are hesitant about seeking out professional help probably from embarrassment and helplessness..

 

“At A. Menarini, male health is a priority and understanding the sensitivities and taboo surrounding the topic of ED can be a difficult conversation to have not only with your partner, loved ones and your doctor. Findings from the online survey revealed that while Malaysians are aware of ED and how it manifests, there are still more conversations to have about understanding that ED is a treatable condition,” said Amelia Mok, General Manager, A. Menarini Singapore Pte Ltd (Malaysia Branch).

 

The Impact of ED on Patients and Loved Ones

Naturalness and spontaneity are parts of the drivers of sexual intercourse, and for ED patients, time-to-effect plays a big role in achieving successful intercourse. 3 For ED patients, spontaneity in sex can add to psychological concerns further reducing the ability to have successful intercourse. In this survey, 24.5% and 32.1% of respondents stated that ED takes a toll on their mental health and sometimes cause frustration respectively, thus affecting their quality of life. Similarly, for women with partners that struggle with ED, 55.7% of respondents revealed that their confidence and personal satisfaction are affected when intercourse is interrupted due to ED.

 

The male survey respondents cited the top three causes for their struggles with maintaining an erection as stress and anxiety (34%), exhaustion (32.1%), and other personal reasons (15.1%). From the point of view of the female respondents, the top three causes for their partner’s struggles with ED are stress and anxiety (71.4%), exhaustion (65.7%), and embarrassment or low self-esteem (31.4%).
In general, the survey findings have revealed that ED is a medical condition that takes a toll on not only the patient but also the loved ones.

Starting the conversation on erectile dysfunction can be challenging and Malaysian respondents of the A. Menarini surveys are however able to have conversations about sexual health with their partners, though most of these respondents are unlikely to see a health practitioner when struggling with ED. 

41.5% of male respondents and 44.3% of female respondents are able to have conversations with their partners regarding sexual health and intimacy.

Taking the next step to meet with a health practitioner, is the way forward to help patients struggling with ED and their loved ones to improve their quality of life. Malaysians are aware of ED but there are still great strides to be taken to help Malaysians understand that ED is a common issue and the importance of seeking out professional help to manage their struggles with ED. 

When the survey respondents were asked to identify the top three common erectile dysfunction treatments, Malaysians named oral drugs or pills (70.1%), testosterone therapy (52.3%), and traditional and herbal remedies (43%).

A. Menarini aims to raise awareness of men’s health, and with erectile dysfunction, it is not enough to just know about ED but to continue to drive the message that ED is almost always a treatable condition. It’s important to educate the public about the benefits of reaching out to health practitioners as ED is a common medical condition….