Global drive on erectile dysfunction on

A global health education initiative designed to improve communications between men with erectile dysfunction (ED), their partners and their doctors has reached the Asian region.

"Strike Up A Conversation," a program supported by Bayer Healthcare Asia-Pacific, aims to help every couple affected by ED to communicate openly about their sexual concerns in order to find a treatment that improves a man’s erectile function and a couple’s quality of life.

"Sexuality is one important part of a relationship," said Dr. Siegfried Meryn, professor of medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, during the program’s launch held recently in Shanghai.

A recent large-scale study, the Asian Men’s Attitudes to Life Events and Sexuality (Asian MALES), showed that ED is common among Asian men ranging from six percent of men in their 40s to 26 percent of 60- to 75-year-olds.

The study also found out that the self-reported prevalence rates of comorbidities among Asian men is significant for men with ED with heart problems (37 percent), diabetes (35 percent), high cholesterol (24 percent), and hypertension (23 percent).

One of the highlights of the event was the presence of supermodel Jerry Hall, spokeswoman of the "Strike Up A Conversation" initiative.

Hall underscored the role of women in men’s health problems. "Erectile dysfunction is a serious issue that can impact on women just as much as the men in a relationship. It’s important that people understand how this problem can affect a relationship and how women can help their partner address the problem."

"I think it’s very empowering for a woman to be able to help diagnose ED in her partner. They can then talk to their doctor and work together to find a solution," she added.

A veritable "Who’s who" in the fields of urology and sexual medicine discussed various aspects of ED – the magnitude of the problem, its impact on health and well-being, and its treatment, particularly vardenafil.

Dr. John Dean, secretary of the European Society of Sexual Medicine, talked about the findings of the "Sex and the Modern Man," a study of over 8,500 men from nine countries, including the United Kingdom, Mexico and France, which showed that 87 percent of men aged 40 and above said sex was important compared with 92 percent of men under 40.

Globally, men have a healthy sexual interest, which is maintained until late in their lives.

Dr. Ian Eardley, consultant urologist at St. James University Hospital in Leeds, discussed the benefits of vardenafil based on studies, including RELY (Reliability of VardenafiL for erectile dYsfunction).

Vardenafil is an oral prescription medication for the improvement of erectile function in men with ED.