Researchers from Taiwan University have shown that men with type D personality are more likely to suffer from erectile dysfunction. Article published Journal of Sexual Medicine.
Type D men are shy and moody. These people tend to avoid interacting with others and have trouble expressing their emotions. They may also be less likely to seek medical help and follow doctor’s advice.
Researchers surveyed 1,740 sexually active Taiwanese men between the ages of 20 and 40. More than half – 941 men – had personality type D. 15.9% (360 men) of all volunteers reported moderate or severe erectile dysfunction. However, this figure jumped to 19.4% (229 men) among those with type D. People with this personality type had higher depression scores of 17 out of 32, compared to 13 for the remaining participants. Type D people were also less active, smoked more often, and had a poor diet, which in itself increases the risk of erectile dysfunction. They were also less likely to go to the doctor when they were not feeling well.
Occasional erection problems can be caused by fatigue, stress, anxiety or alcohol and are not a cause for concern. But sometimes erectile dysfunction is a symptom of another disease, such as hypertension or a hormonal disease. Risk factors for erectile dysfunction include obesity, smoking, excessive cycling, excessive drinking and stress.
The scientists noted that they did not take into account the medical history of the participants, which could play a role in their erectile dysfunction. Poor mental health also increases the risk of erectile problems: studies show that people with depression are 40% more likely to suffer from dysfunction, and people with erectile dysfunction are three times more likely to have depression.