A 360-degree view of erectile function: how medicine and lifestyle form a dual approach
Treating erectile dysfuntion in the digital age: New approaches to solve men problems
Have you ever thought that your erection - or lack thereof - is your body's way of sending out an SOS signal? Erectile function can be a sort of barometer that reflects a range of problems that go far beyond the bedroom.
The latest approach to treating erectile dysfunction looks at the man as a whole, in a 360-degree perspective, rather than focusing on individual parts: the name - dual therapy.
But what does this mean for you as a man and what does this approach to increasing potency offer? We have taken a look at the latest findings on this approach.
The holistic view: It's not just about the bedroom
With advances in fields such as psychology, neuroscience and even sociology, it is becoming increasingly clear that sexual health is not just the absence of disease. It is a complex interplay of mental, emotional and physical well-being. This also applies to your erection.
The reason for this is that our body is a holistic system and changes in erection can have various causes - because the male erection is created by an interplay of many areas of life and physical processes.
The widespread idea that body and mind function as separate systems - each with its own rules - is an outdated notion that no longer quite stands up to scientific scrutiny in this day and age.
The body speaks: what erection problems really tell us
Some of us men have already experienced it. One glass of alcohol too many and the signal transmission for the erection falters - nothing works anymore. Too much mental stress over too long a period of time and the sex drive seems to wane. Of course, there are reasons for all of this.
That's why the concept of men's health and erectile function is less about a one-size-fits-all solution and more about a perspective on the holistic understanding of our bodies and our psychological balance.
We have two pillars on which the whole is built: drug treatments, which can make an important contribution to sexual performance, and digital therapy programmes. Both complement each other in a kind of dual therapy for erectile dysfunction.
A dual approach: why it matters
At the heart of this principle is the recognition that our body systems are not isolated, but interconnected. Treating erectile problems is not just about 'fixing' a single problem, but improving your overall quality of life.
This is where a holistic approach comes into play, taking into account many adjustments such as psychological well-being, biological changes (e.g. loss of potency with age), but also essential areas such as the "blood flow" factor.
Lifestyle & medicine: when all areas intertwine
Healthy blood flow is the key to a strong erection, and nothing gets your circulation going like a good workout. That's why the dual approach also includes body conditioning, exercise and vitality, all of which go hand in hand with blood flow, all of which can also play a role in erection.
But it goes further: whatever goes on between the ears can also have a significant impact on what happens below the belt. Mindfulness practices such as meditation and breathing exercises can help alleviate performance anxiety, improve emotional control and even increase sexual satisfaction. Mindfulness has been scientifically proven to lower stress hormone levels - exactly what you need if you want to be successful (in the long run).
However, if erectile function is impaired due to profound psychological or physical changes that cannot be treated in the short term, or due to illness, PDE-5 inhibitors are often prescribed by specialists as a treatment option. Of course, the medical diagnosis plays an overriding role here in order to ensure tolerability. However, experience shows that sexual enhancers can achieve promising success rates.
Dual therapy combines these areas in one treatment approach:
Drug treatment
Phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors (PDE5I): Well-known drugs such as sildenafil or tadalafil that specifically increase blood flow to the penis.
Lifestyle changes
Diet: A diet rich in fruits, vegetables and good fats can improve blood flow.
Exercise: Exercise to improve cardiovascular health and strengthen muscles.
Alcohol and tobacco use: reducing alcohol and giving up tobacco can improve sexual function.
Weight management: being overweight can lead to circulatory problems and therefore erectile problems.
Emotional & Psyche
Mindfulness and meditation: techniques to improve mental clarity and reduce stress.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT): working with your own thoughts to identify and address the psychological causes of stress and anxiety.
The new wave of medicine: Everyman & Regimen
Medical treatments and lifestyle interventions are usually seen as separate paths. However, in the field of men's sexual health, a fundamental shift is taking place in this regard.
On the one hand, men are showing more and more interest, openness, attention and even an increasing "willingness" to address the issue of their own erections. Nevertheless, pioneers in the industry such as Everyman and Regimen are setting new trends in the accessibility of solutions and offers.
With online diagnosis and app into the future
Companies like Everyman, which offer online questionnaire-based diagnoses and specialised tests, are revolutionising healthcare by making erectile dysfunction medications more accessible, protecting privacy and shortening the often lengthy pathways to diagnosis.
On the other side of the spectrum, technology-driven companies like Regimen offer holistic solutions ranging from training programmes to mindfulness and cognitive behavioural therapies to improve sexual health. When these two aspects come together, the result is an integrated approach that addresses both the symptoms and causes of conditions like erectile dysfunction.
How the methods complement each other
Medications provide immediate, targeted relief by acting directly on the enzymes responsible for erection decline. They are rigorously tested and their effects can be quantified and compared, giving doctors and patients a degree of certainty and control.
Holistic or integrative approaches, on the other hand, target the root causes of the condition. They involve lifestyle changes - diet, exercise, stress management - that offer systemic benefits. Dietary changes, such as reducing sodium and increasing potassium, can have a positive effect on blood pressure.
While medications provide immediate relief, holistic measures provide lasting changes. The trick is to combine these two measures in a way that maximises their strengths and balances each other's weaknesses. Medication can quickly control symptoms and create a stable baseline from which holistic interventions can create profound, lasting change.
Holistic treatment: The therapeutic approach aims for comprehensive health improvement, while drug treatment provides rapid, symptomatic relief. Drug treatment can therefore serve as an initial measure, while therapy offers a long-term solution.
Complementary duration of effect: Therapeutic measures often need time to develop their full effect. Drug treatment can play an important role in the transition phase by providing short- to medium-term relief.
Adaptability and individualisation: Therapeutic approaches can often be better adapted to the individual. They can therefore fill the gaps that standardised drug treatments can create.
Broad approach vs. specialisation: Therapy takes into account psychological and physiological aspects, while medication usually focuses on physiological aspects such as blood flow. Together, they provide a holistic approach.
Conclusion: Towards a holistic understanding
The rise of platforms like Everyman & Regimen, which offer both medical advice and lifestyle solutions, heralds a new, differentiated era in men's sexual health.
The integration of these approaches points to a future where healthcare is no longer just about treating symptoms, but about a deeper understanding and balancing of the many factors that contribute to our well-being.