Currently, there are approximately 150 million men suffering from erectile dysfunction worldwide, and this number is expected to grow. Fueled by sexual entertainment, the global adult industry is expanding, leading men to think about “intimacy” more than ever. However, many of these men are losing their libido, while others struggle under the pressure from women…
Jochen M. vividly remembers that evening when he was cast out of the pack. It was just a few hours when women, who had always been alluring, suddenly became a threat rather than a promise. At 30 years old and still a bachelor, Jochen had hoped to play the role of the “king of the jungle” that evening when he unexpectedly encountered his girlfriend on the street.
They strolled through the park and then had a drink together, both filled with a sense of joy. As night fell, Jochen couldn’t recall who initiated the move towards “exciting entertainment.” He only remembered what transpired afterward in bed. Despite his intense desire, Jochen found himself unable to perform.
The two embraced for a moment. His girlfriend reassured him that such mishaps were common after long separations. “Besides, we need to have something between us first,” she added. Jochen stammered, “Yes, yes,” but his mind was heavy with a question that felt like a weight lifting in reverse: Why won’t “it” stand up?
This embarrassing event had never happened to Jochen before. “Previously, everything was completely normal for me,” he asserted. Jochen suspected that stress might be the culprit. Every morning, he had to report to work before 8 AM and returned home around 8 PM. “I read somewhere that stress is poison for male performance,” he said.
Regarding this “issue,” as Jochen referred to the pain with his manhood, he hadn’t shared it with anyone. In fact, he had yet to pinpoint the exact nature of his problem.
“If you happen to encounter that ‘issue,’ it doesn’t mean you’re sick,” he explained. He revealed it only to a urologist, but that was after a long time.
With his girlfriend, Jochen lacked the courage to discuss his malfunction. After a second failure, they met again a few days later, both in their birthday suits. Yet, everything fell silent. Jochen’s manhood again “turned to noodles.”
Dr. Axel-Jurg Potempa, a urology and sexology expert in Munich, Germany, hears stories like these every day. He has treated about 3,000 to 5,000 patients who believe they are impotent or have been in the past.
The causes can vary: alcoholism, side effects from medication, diabetes, prostate cancer, consequences of sexually transmitted diseases, or the effects of inner stress that the individuals cannot define.
Among his patients are many media figures. In their work, they frequently confront the ideal of perfect sexuality, and they themselves propagate that ideal.
At the same time, in Germany alone, more than 10 million men have failed in bed at least once. Between five to eight million suffer regularly from the condition where “the mind says yes, but the body does not respond.” Pride, shame, and fear quickly intertwine, forming a barrier.
After that night of disappointment, Jochen M. fell into a state of real panic. Initially, he bravely tried to meet new girlfriends. He remembers three faces and still feels a terrible sensation when lying next to them: he gazes at their beautiful backs and counts their ribs and the hours until dawn.
None of those girls maintained a relationship with Jochen. He completely understood why, even though he praised them and behaved politely. “Of course, I feared that someone among them would laugh at me. But they all tried to comfort me; none of them looked down on me or expressed hatred. Simply put, one day they would get up and leave my house, never to return.”
In reality, outside of work, Jochen never left his home. He feared inviting a girlfriend over, even for a movie. Jochen realized that completely normal events could carry different meanings for someone unable to fulfill certain obligations, which society calls “normal.” He also discovered that a cucumber on the grocery shelf could remind him of what he was lacking: at that moment, one begins to think symbolically.
For the past two years, Jochen has isolated himself from the world. During the day he works, and in the evenings he sits alone watching TV. Occasionally, the whisper of a woman’s affection echoes in his mind, accompanied by the heart-wrenching question: why have I become impotent?
Urologist Potempa has interacted with thousands of patients entering his clinic, who do not resemble hunters or conquerors but rather appear as the conquered and victims of doubt.
The scientist asserts that, in general, modern men are ill-prepared for the situation of defeat. According to Potempa and his colleagues, there are currently about 150 million men worldwide experiencing such issues, and this number will continue to rise. The pressures of civilization will not diminish, and society is aging.
Potempa forecasts that by 2025, there will be at least 320 million men facing erectile dysfunction globally. Most of this population will not seek medical help. Only 10% have the courage to do so, and the percentage seeking psychological assistance is even lower.
Currently, there are two schools of thought regarding the treatment of erectile dysfunction. The first is based on the thorough analysis of the phenomenon—a process requiring many years and, for most patients, it means a deep invasion into their private lives. The second school employs medication—an approach that can yield immediate results but is not suitable for everyone.
“They want to escape the ‘deep well of shame’ as quickly as possible, which is understandable,” Potempa comments.
“I was prescribed a homeopathic remedy that required a somewhat long treatment time but had lasting effects. It was explained that the medication works on psychological states,” Jochen M. shared. Meanwhile, Jochen wanted something quick and directly effective on his body. This compound is called Sildenafil, more commonly known as Viagra, which aids in erection. “Thanks to Viagra, I was reborn,” Jochen expressed excitedly.
For three years, he has been using the medication as prescribed by his doctor. Since then, his issue has been resolved. The effects of the “wonder drug” can be felt just 20 minutes after ingestion, and performance is maintained for the following 240 minutes. For the first time during conversation, Jochen appeared confident and somewhat proud.
As one of the approximately 8 million men in Germany and about 150 million worldwide, Jochen now has a girlfriend. They meet regularly, but she is completely unaware of the mysterious story of her partner. Jochen still conceals his use of the “wonder drug.” “If our relationship becomes solid, there will come a day when I reveal the truth,” he confided.
