CHINA / Regional

Study shows problems of erectile dysfunction
By Zhou Weirong (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-08-10 06:17

GUANGZHOU: As many as 50 per cent of Chinese men aged between 40 and 70 are suffering from erectile dysfunction (ED), according to research released this week.

Furthermore, about 10 per cent of the national adult male population suffer some degree of ED.

However, only 10 per cent of ED suffers on the Chinese mainland take medical treatment, according to research sponsored by German pharmaceutical giant Bayer released in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, on Tuesday.

The study was based on a survey of at least 2,000 men aged between 20 and 75 in major cities such as Guangzhou and Beijing.

Compared with many foreign men, Chinese men remain extremely reluctant to talk about their sexual problems, although the majority of them think it is very important to satisfy the needs of their partners.

Going to see a doctor is torturous for Chinese ED sufferers, according to the survey.

Thirty-seven per cent of the respondents said they were too shy to talk about it to doctors; 16 per cent don't know which doctor to talk to; 12 per cent don't believe in treatment, while 30 per cent simply choose to wait for ED to disappear.

The results reflect a growing concern in the country that many men are unhappy due to their unsatisfactory sexual performance.

When men have ED problems, their life quality is greatly lowered, said Professor Zhu Jichuan from Peking University, adding ED causes severe negative effects on the overall health of men.

"ED sufferers are more likely to get dissatisfied with their health condition, inter-personal relations, and their work," Zhu said.

Zhu, who is also a chief member of Chinese Medical Association Andrology Branch, said women could do more to help their partners, as the survey found that 67 per cent of men would choose to discuss the problem with their female partners if they had to.

Andrology is a branch of medicine concerned with diseases specific to men, particularly infertility and sexual dysfunction.

Despite wide use of Chinese medicine for other problems, when it comes to ED most Chinese choose to use Western medicines.

Among those who seek treatment, only 25 per cent use traditional Chinese medical methods to treat ED, compared with 60 per cent who choose Western medicine. The remaining 15 per cent use other treatments such as spiritual or alternative remedies.

"Chinese medicines are actually cheaper with less side effects," Zhu said.

Men should also learn to adopt a healthy lifestyle to avoid ED problems, he said.

(China Daily 08/10/2006 page3)