‘Erection a sign of good health’

An erection is a reliable barometer of a man’s physical and mental health, medical experts say.

Urologic surgeon Dr. Juliano Panganiban, officer of the Philippine Urological Association and member of the American Urological Association, says that erectile dysfunction (ED) or impotence is caused by several factors that could signal a more serious ailment.

"If men can’t have an erection or they continuously have poor erection, then that means something is wrong with their body. It could mean they are developing cardiovascular diseases, it could mean that they are undetected diabetics, or something," he said.

"Then it is best that they immediately seek help or consult with their doctor so they can find out what is wrong and get treatment," Panganiban added.

He pointed out that he has had many male patients who discovered that they were suffering from diabetes or hypertension when they consulted him about their ED problems.

He explained that men suffering from diabetes and cardio-vascular diseases such as hypertension are prone to suffer from ED or impotence. He pointed out that early detection of diabetes and hypertension played a big part in reviving one’s erection.

The specialist said that this was why men should seek help when suffering from ED, rather than suffer in silence when the condition is treatable with medication and a healthy lifestyle.

Psychiatrist Dr. Luz Casimiro-Querubin echoed Panganiban’s statements, saying that men should not hesitate to seek medical help when suffering from ED since consultation with specialists could not only treat them but also uncover some lingering malady.

Global data had shown that 50 percent of men aged 40 and above suffer from ED. Studies, however, revealed that only 30 percent of those who suffer from the condition seek medical help, with the remaining 70 percent suffer in silence leading to depression, and marital and other problems.

Querubin and Panganiban are both members of the Medical Experts on Erectile Dysfunction (Medex) program of Pfizer Inc., manufacturer of the wonder drug Viagra (sildenafil), the only approved oral medication treating ED.

Medex is a network of 4,000 doctors of different fields of specialization who are capable and skilled in the treatment and handling of ED.

According to Pfizer, Medex doctors offer information and prescribe the most effective solutions to ED with the patient’s privacy and best interest at heart.