There's a secret some men won’t even share with their partner and this secrecy can have a significant impact on even the strongest relationships. Being unable to achieve or sustain an erection long enough to have sex can be an embarrassing subject for those living with erectile dysfunction (ED) despite it being a very common health issue. In fact, it's estimated that half of all men aged between 40-70 will suffer ED – which is also known as impotence – at some time or other and can be caused by factors including certain medications, too much alcohol, high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes.
There are also psychological causes like stress, anxiety or tiredness. It can also be an early sign of a life-threatening health issue such as heart disease (where a vessel blockage or narrowing can restrict blood flow to the penis). Although discussing it with your GP or other health professionals might sound daunting, it can help identify its cause, as well as treatment.
But for many, ED remains a difficult topic to talk about . It can lead to secrets and lies between couples, with each partner easily jumping to the wrong conclusion. Now, new research by Eroxon , an over-the-counter topical gel to treat ED, has found that a fifth of men suffering from ED have been wrongly suspected of cheating by their partner* because of a change in intimacy in their relationship.
Here, leading experts explain the signs which could indicate your partner might be hiding their problems, an.