How Genetics Affects Men's Risk of Erectile Dysfunction

Dr. Joseph Mercola - Take Control of Your Health

Briana Mercola

Health & Fitness, Alternative Health

4.6 • 1.5K Ratings

🗓️ 31 December 2025

⏱️ 9 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

About 24.2% of U.S. men today screen positive for erectile dysfunction (ED), while global rates range from 3% to 76.5%, showing it's a common health problem that affects men of all ages
A 2025 study in the American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Urology found that ED is influenced by genes that also raise risk for obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and addiction, tying erection problems to long-term heart health
ED is usually multifactorial, with vascular, neurogenic, hormonal, and psychogenic forms, and is strongly associated with conditions like heart disease, obesity, sleep apnea, and depression, making it a powerful early warning sign that something deeper is wrong
While drugs like Viagra can temporarily improve erections, they don't work for everyone and may be unsafe for men taking heart and lung medications
Instead of relying solely on pills, addressing root causes with a heart-focused check-up, a metabolic-friendly diet, pelvic floor training, restorative sleep, enough sunlight and mindful supplementation can help restore sexual function without more drugs

Transcript

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0:00.0	What if erection problems were your earliest, clearest signal that your heart, metabolism, sleep, or mood needs attention right now?
0:08.0	Welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom.
0:11.0	Stay informed with quick, easy-to-listen summaries of our latest articles, perfect for when you're on the go.
0:16.0	No reading required. Subscribe for free at Mercola.com for the latest health insights.
0:21.8	Hello and welcome to Dr. Mercola's cellular wisdom. I'm Ethan Foster.
0:26.4	Today we're unpacking how genetics and metabolic health shape erectile dysfunction,
0:31.3	why pills aren't a complete solution, and what practical steps you can take to address root causes
0:36.5	that influence both erections
0:38.3	and long-term health.
0:40.3	I'm Alara Sky.
0:42.3	Erectile dysfunction, difficulty getting or keeping an erection during sex is common,
0:48.3	with 24.2% of U.S. men screening positive and global estimates ranging from 3% to 76.5% depending on the population.
0:57.7	It's not trivial, and it isn't a character flaw. It's often a warning sign tied to vascular,
1:04.3	neurogenic, hormonal, and psychogenic factors that deserve straightforward evaluation.
1:10.7	A 2025 study in the American Journal of Clinical and Experimental Urology used Mendelian
1:17.6	randomization backed by G-W-A-S and T-W-A-S methods to clarify cause-over correlation.
1:25.6	Researchers analyze 95,178 men, then integrated data from
1:30.3	over a million individuals. They identified 263 genes linked to erectile dysfunction,
1:38.3	many involved in lipid metabolism, immune function, and cell structure, systems that directly
1:43.3	influence blood flow and tissue integrity.
1:46.9	One protective signal stood out. Higher activity of Trip 10 correlated with lower risk, with an odds
1:53.3	ratio around 0.58. On the risk side, Sim1 showed the strongest genetic association, tying erectile dysfunction
	...

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