There erectile dysfunction is one of the most common problems among men, with a growing impact worldwide also connected to the increase in the age of the population. Statistics and trends in drug sales highlight how widespread and complex this condition is. By 2025 it is expected that approximately 322 million men in the world will suffer from erectile dysfunction.
In Italy, the market for drugs for this pathology is significant. The Italian Medicines Agency reported that in 2023 the official sales of these drugs have exceeded 200 million euros in turnoverplacing Italy at the second place in the worldimmediately after the United Kingdom, for consumption of products intended to treat erectile dysfunction. While according to the latest OsMed 2022 report also drawn up by Aifa, spending on these drugs had reached 240 million euros the year before, with a per capita consumption of 9.88 euros among the male population over the age of 18, an increase of 1.1% compared to 2021.
The consumption of these drugs is constantly growing since 2015with a total increase of 90% and an average annual variation of +9.6% and an increase of 5.7% compared to the previous year. At the regional level, the consumption of drugs for erectile dysfunction in Central Italy is 22% higher than the national average. In the South, consumption is in line with the national average, while in the North it is 11% lower. Campania has the highest consumption, followed by Lazio and Tuscany. Lazio, Trento and Abruzzo have recorded the most significant increases, above 10%.
On the occasion of September 4th, World Sexual Health Daythe University of Pavia, with the Department of Political and Social Sciences, and Siams, the Italian Society of Andrology and Sexual Medicine, with the support of Cooper Consumer Health, as part of the research of the Observatory “Let’s Take Care of Men – Male Sexual Health Between Taboos and Misinformation” are once again drawing attention to the data that have emerged in these first months of the program.
From the many interviews with medical specialists in the sexual sphere such as andrologists, urologists, gynecologists and Italian sexologists, Six essential points have emerged to take into consideration to truly improve the quality of sexual well-being, in the face of an increasingly aging population, an element that systematically affects sexual pathologies. Among other things, 25 years after the marketing of the first oral treatments for male impotence, the approach to the treatment of erectile dysfunction is about to change with the arrival in pharmacies of a new medical device for local use in gelwhich does not require a prescription. A development that will offer a more accessible and immediate alternative.
Six Steps to Complete Male Sexual Wellness
The research showed that Italian men resort to medical care for genital and sexual health only when necessary and, in general, only at an advanced age. The medical specialists involved in the Observatory on Male Sexuality, instead, underline the essentiality of periodically check your well-being with accurate checkssuch as regular visits to the andrologist – a specialist who is too often avoided – as happens with the gynecologist for women, already in puberty.
An open and continuous relationship with a trusted doctor helps in case of need to promptly address the situation: starting from small pharmacological suggestions with topical remedies up to more complex analyses and therapies – in the case of cardiovascular diseases or metabolic syndrome, for example – always knowing what is happening to your body is an advantage in the case of early diagnosis. Prevention today, research says, is an urgent issue for male sexual health.
Young generations are exposed to free explicit content without filters. Smartphones and, in general, an always connected life, have transformed the consumption of pornographic material from a very young age. Therefore, openness towards sexuality is not only the prerogative of the relationship with one’s doctor but above all It starts with your family and loved ones: there is an urgent need to provide tools to pre-adolescents to clarify the emotional difference between real relationships and pornographic fiction. More generally, to address the knowledge of one’s own body and that of the other to have respect for both.
For older generations, less accustomed to talking openly about the sexual sphere in the family, an important distinction is represented by openness with the partner. Especially in the case of the first signs of erectile dysfunction or premature ejaculation, be able to verbalize your state of mind with a trusted personemotionally involved, helps not to isolate oneself, not to feel misunderstood and therefore not to feel frustrated, triggering a vicious circle of silence and denial.
From interviews with sociologists and the analysis of over 200 sources of scientific literature on the topic, it also emerged that even today, especially Men do not share their weaknesses within the group due to a cultural taboowhich penalizes those who appear weak and vulnerable in sexual terms. This silence can have significant consequences on sexual health, preventing early recognition of problems and limiting access to effective solutions. Overcoming this limit is essential to promote a more inclusive and realistic sexual well-being, where openness and discussion become tools for personal and collective growth.
While digital globalization has opened up many opportunities, it does not avoid risks. When it comes to medical devices, drugs, and cosmetics, it is best to rely on your doctor and pharmacist to choose the most appropriate product, based on your needs, and to make the purchase through safe and well-known off- and online channels. Sexual well-being also means taking care of yourself with awareness, without believing in miracles.
Source: Vanity Fair
I’m Susan Karen, a professional writer and editor at World Stock Market. I specialize in Entertainment news, writing stories that keep readers informed on all the latest developments in the industry. With over five years of experience in creating engaging content and copywriting for various media outlets, I have grown to become an invaluable asset to any team.
