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Do you remember in middle school, high school, or even in college when you would get random erections throughout the day? It was always a constant battle to hide them because they wouldn’t go away, especially during the worst times like in front of crushes or when you had to stand up to do a presentation.
With that being said, things might be starting to change!
Erectile dysfunction can happen to younger guys under the age of 40 too! In fact, studies show that 1 in 4 men under 40 has some form of ED. Maybe you’re not getting erections as frequently.
Perhaps there are times it’s hard for you to maintain one when trying to impress someone. We’ve all been there, and If you’re starting to see early signs of erectile dysfunction, don’t ignore it!
We know that ED and other sexual performance issues can be embarrassing and frustrating, especially when you don’t understand why it’s happening at an early age. But don’t worry, we’re here to give men under the age of 40 a reason why they should take care of their erections, get a proper diagnosis, and reverse/prevent ED before it becomes a serious problem.
Fight the Stigma That ED Is “All in Your Head”
As some doctors still follow traditional medicine and methodologies, it can be challenging for a younger guy to find the proper treatment to prevent or cure ED.
But why is that? Why can’t younger guys get appropriately diagnosed? After all, ED is supposed to be inevitable, right?
If you ask us, there's so much research about ED in older men that experts are neglecting the growing questions from younger guys starting to see early symptoms of ED. Although older men tend to have more physical problems and complications than younger guys, it still blows our minds that there isn’t some sort of guidance or research to present younger guys with as a wake-up call to take care of their bodies.
Guys under the age of 40 should be trying to take care of their bodies and erections before these dysfunctions get worse down the road.
Unfortunately, more and more younger guys don’t know who to talk to about these issues, and most doctors will tell them that it’s probably anxiety or “all in your head”. Some might even prescribe traditional ED pills because they think it will help their “confidence” to perform.
Now, If you’ve ever been told that it’s “all in your head,” I can tell you right now that’s not 100% true. Although performance anxiety can sometimes prevent a guy from rising to the occasion, there may be some underlying health issues that are often being overlooked.
Lifestyle habits like smoking, excessive drinking, eating poorly, lack of sleep, and injuries may also contribute to early warning signs of ED. This and irregularities in hormones like low testosterone may also be a culprit.
Men Under 40 Shouldn’t Rely on Just ED Pills
So, what’s the solution? Should men under 40 start taking ED pills? No, because this is only a temporary fix.
In fact, ED medication doesn’t always work! Everyone’s bodies are different, and drugs generally don’t treat the root cause of ED. And for some younger guys, they don’t even know the proper doses they should be taking.
Taking pills in the wrong dosages will only do more harm to the body. According to the NHS, the average dose of Viagra recommended as a safe dose is 50 mg. There are plenty of younger guys who would just take 100 mg of Viagra for the hell of it or buy other branded ED pills from online vendors illegally because they believe it will be a backup plan if their erections fail.
The trouble is, even if a guy takes a 25 mg, 50mg, or 100 mg pill, it will not remove feelings of anxiety or stress related to sexual encounters. This is why research continues to point out that phycological ED and/or performance anxiety ED are some of the significant reasons guys can’t perform.
Now I don’t want to dismiss other factors because it’s also about lifestyle choices too. Most general doctors aren’t well-versed in nutrition or imbalances in sleep, exercise, etc.
Guys should be focusing on these factors instead of feeding on pills or jumping to get hormone therapy. We know some younger guys in today’s age are all about health & fitness. Still, some are not educated in this area and will continue living unhealthy lifestyles while using ED pills recreationally with drugs, narcotics, and alcohol.
It’s just not a good combo, especially for younger guys without a prescription. Yes, there are now more online distributors for sildenafil and other PDE5 inhibitors, but it doesn’t stop the guy next door to you from popping a pill or two because of the expectation to perform.
And that’s also bad because if a guy takes too much of a PDE5 inhibitor without consulting with a doctor, it may lead to some severe consequences like priapism (erection lasting more than 4 hours), stroke, low blood pressure, and other serious side effects.
BDE Style is an advocate for erectile dysfunction treatments, sexual performance, and more that actually work to solve the root problem. We want guys of all ages to get the proper treatment they need. So when going to the doctor, we want men under the age of 40 to be aware of how they can get an accurate diagnosis.
Here’s what you should know.
Get Diagnosed For ED the Right Way
You need to find a urologist. They’re the ones that typically handle sexual reproductive health. Most likely, you will have to go to your regular doctor first before he/she refers you to a urologist.
This is just how most medical offices work.
Whenever you do see your urologist, you have to be prepared. In general, it’s hard to get a good doctor’s visit because most doctors get seen by hundreds of patients weekly.
This is why we suggest narrowing down your significant concerns about ED to maybe 2 or 3 questions and then saving the rest for a follow-up. And do your research beforehand. If your regular doctor refers you to a specific urologist, you better look them up.
See what they specialize in.
I know it’s hard to judge based on profiles you see online, but it’s a start. You should also research ED, its causes, symptoms, and treatment beforehand.
ED is usually the inability to achieve or maintain an erection. So you have to figure that out on your own as to whether or not you can’t keep one or if you can’t achieve one. After that, you would have to think about other factors like your stress, relationship, when these symptoms occur, etc.
If you’re in your 20’s, 30’s, or 40’s it’s more than likely that you’re not visiting the doctor as often as someone in their 60’s would be doing. These guys are most likely comfortable and have found their doctor that knows all about their health history.
You, on the other hand, need to establish a relationship and show dominance. At the end of the day, you are paying them to take care of your health, and you also want to fight the stigma that young guys don’t experience ED.
You also don’t want to spend money on a doctor's visit and get nowhere, so ask the right questions. You should also be aware of medical gaslighting beforehand and know what to do if you think it's happening to you.
What are the Right Questions to Ask About ED?
Say, for instance, you have a hard time maintaining an erection before sex; I would start off by saying exactly what you are experiencing.
“I’m having trouble maintaining an erection. It’s been happening for X amount of months (or years). I’ve talked to my partner about it, and she/he is on the same page as far as getting properly diagnosed and receiving treatment. What do you think is causing me to have problems maintaining an erection? And What tests do you recommend for issues with maintaining an erection?”
Notice how it's short and specific. You’re not going on a tangent, and the doctor can then answer your few questions so you can move on to the next one. Remember, their time is limited, and this is your time to really narrow it down on what you need to do after your first appointment.
*** BDE Style Tip: You should already have looked up how they diagnose ED beforehand. At the same time, you should already know some of the services or tests the doctor performs. Most of the time, when you google a doctor or their practice, they may have a small section on erectile dysfunction treatment or causes, and it may or may not go into detail about what their methods are for screening, diagnosing, and treating ED. What you want is just some clarification and testing that you can’t do on your own.
What Tests Should I Ask For When Getting Diagnosed For ED
Most doctors will probably start off with your sexual and medical history. In most cases, doctors use a questionnaire/survey that evaluates your overall satisfaction with your erections/confidence to perform. He or she will either ask you one-on-one or may prompt you to fill out a form in the waiting room before going in the room.
Questions that may or may not be on the form/asked:
How would you rate your confidence that you can get an erection and can keep one
How often is your penis firm or rigid enough for sexual intercourse (from stimulation)
How often are you able to maintain an erection during intercourse
If you find sexual intercourse satisfying
How often do you have morning erections
How would you rate your level of sexual desire
Are you able to orgasm, or climax and ejaculate, and how often
Are there any surgeries or treatments that may have damaged your nerves or blood vessels near the penis
Do you take any prescription drugs or over-the-counter medicines
Do you drink alcohol, smoke, or use illegal drugs
Doctors ask these types of questions so that they can understand your erection problems. It will help doctors know if you had any diseases or treatments that may have led to ED by asking about your medical history. For instance, a pelvis injury from a motorcycle accident. In addition to medical history, reviewing your sexual activity will help uncover any issues with sexual desire, erection, climax, and ejaculation.
From there, doctors will perform a physical examination of your junk to check:
Your penis if it’s sensitive to touch. If it lacks sensitivity, there may be a problem in the nervous system
How your penis looks. Does it bend? Is there a curve? Sometimes Peyronie’s Disease may be one of the culprits
Your blood pressure and your pulse to determine circulation
By now, I would hope you had asked your question(s) from the start of the questionnaire and during the physical examination.
The doctor will most likely suggest testing during your next visit based on the information provided and your concerns if you bring it up. Your concerns and questions will help the doctor get you the necessary testing needed to rule out the causes of your ED.
For instance, going back to the original scenario about having trouble maintaining an erection may indicate poor blood flow or issues with the valves allowing blood to stay inside the penis. This is the simplest way to put it, but most doctors may test using a Doppler exam, lab testing, or an injection test.
The normal tests and evaluations doctors perform when diagnosing ED are some of the following:
Lab tests (T-levels, Prolactin levels, estrogen, blood glucose, cholesterol, and triglyceride, Thyroid, complete blood count, and other male hormone-related blood work)
Doppler exam (Determines the speed and direction blood is flowing through a blood vessel)
Nocturnal erection test (wearing a plastic ring at night to determine if you have nocturnal erections)
Injection test (A shot into the penis with a vascular stimulant to cause an erection)
You can also get these tests done at home by ordering them online. So if you want to see your different panels without having to schedule a doctor's visit, you can use Health Labs to find out!
Be Observant and Watch Your Doctor’s Body Language
Ideally, the goal is to emphasize that you’re getting older, and your body is not the same as it once was when you were 18. You’re seeing these ED symptoms, and you want to know what is causing them and what you can do to reverse these symptoms and prevent your ED from getting worse.
A Doctors visit, on average, is around 15 minutes or less with every patient. So, whether or not you've got your “few” concerns out, you should watch your doctor's body language and lookout for signs that they’re trying to “hurry up” the visit.
If your doctor seems cold, rude, or dismissive of your concerns, then this is a red flag. If he or she is distracted by electronics, filling out checklists or updating the system while you are talking is just plain rude. If they also interrupt you or have close-ended questions requiring one-worded answers, you’re not being heard.
Remember, the goal is to explain your story in a short and concise way so they can interpret what the next step is. If you feel like you’re not being heard, then get out of there!
This is what we call a “bad” doctor visit, and no, it’s not the majority of doctors out there, but there are some that just aren’t experienced enough to really nail the 10-15 minute visit while giving quality care as they should.
If that’s the case, then It’s time to find a different doctor.
Lifestyle and Dietary Changes Over Pills and Injections
I’m not saying you shouldn’t go to the doctor, but what you should be doing is taking a closer look at your lifestyle choices. Focus on things like sleep regime, if you’re exercising regularly, if you're eating right, and if you are managing stress. Do these steps first rather than rushing to the doctor to get pills or injections for ED or hormone therapy.
Although guys start to see a decline in testosterone after 30, and some doctors associate this with ED, a good suggestion would be to optimize all the factors mentioned above first, before getting lab work for T-levels or getting pills. Here are some examples:
See if improving sleep from 5 hours a night to 8 hours(consistent) a night improves your ED (Sleep quality can affect T-levels)
See if eating less processed foods helps blood circulation, and overall energy (Processed foods or oily foods are the worst kinds of foods that causes inflammation)
Quit smoking and eliminate drugs to see if it will improve your erectile function and nerve function
Start exercising and see if that improves circulation
Nothing is a “quick” fix, and I know some of these are just examples, and they’re not fully explained with practical “how to’s,” but the point is to look at yourself first as the number one culprit for causing your ED. Don’t blame “age” or your partner for these early ED symptoms.
Do trial and error and see if you see any improvements. Track your sleep and what you eat to see where your deficiencies are. An excellent way to track macro and micronutrients is the chronometer. It’s a perfect tool to know where you’re at daily and in terms of deficiencies.
If you have more doubts, talk about it with your partner or seek a therapist. We’re all adults. Drop the macho act. We all need help from time to time, and the goal is longevity and to live a healthier and more prosperous lifestyle.
Partners or potential hookups often find men that take care of themselves as sexy. So be sexy and take care of your body and your mind. Lastly, if you do seek treatment or lab tests, try to compare before and after! This way, you can see if you’re making a change.
If you're looking for a natural, healthy, and faster approach to treating ED, consider The Phoenix!
Men Under 40 Should Give The Phoenix Acoustic Wave Therapy Device a Try
As a more natural way to help the plumbing inside your penis, there are plenty of guys under the age of 40 that are now using The Phoenix to improve their sexual performance and make it easier for them to "get it up".
Most guys with ED see improvement after 6-12 treatments. It’s the same clinical strength you would get at a men’s health and wellness clinic, but instead, you own the device at home! You can also re-treat anytime in the future for preventative care. At the end of the day, we only get one body in this life. Yes, we all should be using it, but most importantly, we should be maximizing it so we can perform at optimal levels.
BDE Style is your resource guide for men’s health-related topics like treating ED, male enhancement, relationships, and sex advice. If you liked this article, share it and comment below, or if you have questions contact us! You can remain anonymous and share your story with us at info@bdestyle.com.