Erectile Dysfunction in a Sample of Sexually Active Young Adult Men from a U.S. Cohort: Demographic, Metabolic and Mental Health Correlates

Abstract

Purpose: Little is understood about physiological and psychological correlates of erectile dysfunction among younger men. We examined prevalence and correlates of erectile dysfunction in a large U.S. sample of 18 to 31-year-old men.

Materials and methods: Erectile dysfunction prevalence and severity (defined using the International Index of Erectile Function-5 scale) were examined in cross-sectional survey data from 2,660 sexually active men, age 18 to 31 years, from the 2013 Growing Up Today Study. Erectile dysfunction medication and supplement use were self-reported. Multivariable models estimated associations of moderate-to-severe erectile dysfunction with demographic (age, marital status), metabolic (body mass index, waist circumference, history of diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia) and mental health (depression, anxiety, antidepressant use, tranquilizer use) variables.

Results: Among sexually active men 11.3% reported mild erectile dysfunction and 2.9% reported moderate-to-severe erectile dysfunction. Married/partnered men had 65% lower odds of erectile dysfunction compared to single men. Adjusting for history of depression, antidepressant use was associated with more than 3 times the odds of moderate-to-severe erectile dysfunction. Anxiety was associated with greater odds of moderate-to-severe erectile dysfunction, as was tranquilizer use. Few men (2%) reported using erectile dysfunction medication or supplements. However, among them, 29.7% misused prescription erectile dysfunction medication. Limitations include reliance upon cross-sectional data and the sample's limited racial/ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.

Conclusions: Erectile dysfunction was common in a large sample of sexually active young adult men from a U.S. cohort and was associated with relationship status and mental health. Health providers should screen for erectile dysfunction in young men, and monitor use of prescription erectile dysfunction medications and supplements for sexual functioning.

Keywords: anxiety; depression; erectile dysfunction; marital status; prescription drug misuse.