Nearly two decades after its introduction as a viable treatment for erectile dysfunction, Viagra has achieved mainstream status. The little blue pill accounts for nearly half the annual revenue of all ED drugs, and Grand View Research predicts the global market for ED drugs will reach $3.2 billion within six years.
And as more men become comfortable seeking treatment for ED, some Memphis-area medical professionals see opportunities to address other health concerns.
“Erectile dysfunction becomes more common after age 40, but there are often underlying causes that need to be treated such as cardiac disease or diabetes or obesity,” said Robert Wake, MD, chairman of the Department of Urology at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. “Men will come see us because of ED, but not as many make appointments for preventative care like cholesterol or prostate screenings. We want to change that.”
Those seemingly ubiquitous ads for ED treatments that appear across broadcast, online and traditional print media platforms just might help, Wake said. The very proliferation of treatment options that lead men to explore ways to increase their libidos can help improve their health at the same time.
Richard Pearson, MD, a board-certified urologist with Exceed Hormone Specialists, agreed.
“Endothelial dysfunction is usually the underlying cause for ED, and it may be due to high blood pressure or high cholesterol or smoking or being overweight,” Pearson said. “Treatment that includes smoking cessation, getting more exercise and losing weight, adopting a healthy diet and getting blood sugar levels where they need to be will often correct this condition over time in many patients. But that involves making lifestyle changes, and it can be difficult to convince men to make those changes on a permanent basis.”
And adopting healthier habits to address ED is not just a challenge for older men, doctors acknowledge.
In fact, a 2013 study published by The Journal of Sexual Medicine revealed that of men seeking treatment for new onset erectile dysfunction, 26 percent were under age 40. And of those under 40 diagnosed with ED, nearly 50 percent were diagnosed with severe rates of erectile dysfunction.
That doesn’t surprise Rob Booth, a physician assistant at Atlas Men’s Health.
“Many times ED issues, particularly for younger men, are psychological because they may have a bad episode and then become anxious that this will happen again and it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy because of diminished confidence,” Booth said. “One thing we’re noticing today is that increasing numbers of men are exhibiting lower testosterone levels, and that can affect their libido and energy level.”
A 2012 study published by the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism found that testosterone levels in men have been on the decline for the last two decades. The research was conducted during three periods from 1987 to 2004 on 1,500 men.
“Male serum testosterone levels appear to vary by generation, even after age is taken into account,” said Thomas G. Travison, PhD, of the New England Research Institutes in Watertown, Massachusetts, and lead author of the study. “In 1988, men who were 50 years old had higher serum testosterone concentrations than did comparable 50-year-old men in 1996. This suggests that some factor other than age may be contributing to the observed declines in testosterone over time.”
In addition to an increasingly sedentary lifestyle for men in the U.S., Booth believes stress and a constant plugged-in lifestyle are also to blame.
“Everyone is always ‘on’ and connected to some device,” Booth said. “We sleep with our mobile phones by our beds, we’ve got all kinds of electric devices in our bedrooms that emit light and this interrupts REM sleep, which decreases testosterone production. Our culture is affecting our virility.”
The American Urological Association advises men to discuss testosterone therapy with their doctors before seeking such treatments for erectile dysfunction. The organization recommends that patients discuss medical histories with their doctors and undergo physical evaluations before exploring treatment options.
And that’s a message Wake is determined to promote.
He is working with other medical professionals and the Regional One Health Foundation to develop a comprehensive clinic dedicated to men’s health. Wake believes that such a facility, the first in the region, will soon be operational.
“My vision is to get men into preventative medicine to prolong life and improve the quality of their life,” Wake said. “I’d like to see us be able to offer medical services and health screenings all in one place and even include psychiatric and counseling services and smoking cessation and weight loss services.”
Wake is optimistic about the comprehensive clinic at the Regional One campus at 6555 Quince. He said the group is pursuing additional funding to bring the concept to fruition within five years.
“Men may initially come in to talk about ED but address other health concerns while they’re there. The idea is that there would be no issue too small or condition too big for patients to come to this clinic about,” Wake said. “Men could come and get their medical workups done, have tests run and access whatever health services they need. We’re setting our dreams high, and we’re dedicated to making this happen.”
RELATED LINKS:
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism
Regional One Health Foundation