By Dr. Emile Sabga, ND

There’s a running joke in the men’s health community that there are few things that motivate a man to seek medical attention more than when his “you know what” stops working. Whether or not that little anecdote rings true is yet to be proven, but for many, sexual dysfunction is an unfortunate reality that millions of men deal with every day. In fact, erectile dysfunction affects about 30 million men each year in the United States alone!

The mere fact that so many men struggle with this issue is enough to alleviate the pressure of the stigma that surrounds the topic. But just because this is a common issue does not mean that it’s normal!

The first step in resolving erectile dysfunction is understanding the cause. Erectile dysfunction may occur as a result of:

• Ageing
• Certain medication use
• Co-morbid chronic health concerns (such as diabetes, cardiovascular, hypertension, etc.)
• Mental health concerns (such as anxiety or depression)
• Poor diet and lifestyle
• Other underlying conditions

With so many reasons for why one could experience low libido and/or erectile dysfunction, there is no blanket solution for these concerns. That’s why it is so important to be appropriately assessed by a naturopathic doctor to identify the root cause of the issue, and work with them to create plan to meet your individual needs. Through diet/lifestyle counselling, targeted supplementation protocols, and coordinated care alongside other health professionals, naturopathic doctors and physicians can provide vital complementary solutions for sexual health concerns.