PRESS RELEASE FROM THE MHF

Embargo: 14 February 2012

Erection problems do not just kill the moment they could kill the man

There is strong evidence of a link between men’s erection problems and heart disease, experts say. A new report from the charity the Men’s Health Forum says that erection problems are probably the most important early warning of heart problems. Erection problems could warn of cardiovascular problems 2-3 years before other symptoms and 3-5 years before critical problems.

The Men’s Health Forum has called for more men and more doctors to be told about the link and how erection problems can be an early warning of heart disease. Men could be twice as likely to suffer heart problems if they have erectile dysfunction (ED). The Men’s Health Forum’s call is made in its new report summarising briefings from experts and surveys of men and doctors.

Men’s Health Forum president Dr Ian Banks said: ‘We have the perfect storm of men’s embarrassment about erection problems, GPs under pressure and deadly disease. Acting as soon as problems start could save lives.’

Dr Banks continued, highlighting the pressures limiting GPs’ ability to prescribe treatments for erection problems, in some areas men are limited to two pills a month.

'Many men know it can be hard to get treatment for erection problems and this can make it harder to overcome their embarrassment.’

‘Given the well-established medical causes of ED, restrictions and confusion over a GPs ability to prescribe medicines for ED are probably contributing to the delay in definitive. Even on this basis alone, it makes sense to allow greater access to anti-ED medications from GPs if men are to avoid dangerous purchases from the internet.’

ENDS.

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Notes:
1. The MHF is a charity that provides an independent and authoritative voice for male health in England and Wales and tackles the issues and inequalities affecting the health and well-being of men and boys.

2. The MHF’s report ‘The links between cardiovascular disease, erectile dysfunction and testosterone deficiency syndrome When to act, how to act’ summarises presentations made to a meeting of the All-party Parliamentary Group on Men’s Health and information from a survey of men and GPs made available to the MHF.

3. The MHF’s costs for this meeting were been paid for through an unrestricted donation from Bayer Healthcare. The survey of men and GPs mentioned above was conducted by Kember Associates for Bayer Healthcare.

4. National Men’s Health Week in June will focus on men and heart problems including encouraging the use of NHS Health Checks and highlighting the link between erectile dysfunction and heart disease.

5. The MHF is online at:
www.menshealthforum.org.uk for health professionals and policy makers, and
www.malehealth.co.uk for fast, free, independent health info from the Men’s Health Forum.
@menshealthforum for updates on our work.