Nearly Half of Men Have Erectile Dysfunction — And Most Don't Even Realize It

This study surveyed over 97,000 men across 8 countries — Brazil, China, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, the UK, and the US — to get an honest picture of how common ED really is. The results were eye-opening.

Overall, about 40% of adult men reported having ED in the past 6 months. Italy topped the list at nearly 49%, while even Brazil — the lowest — came in at 37%. That's roughly 1 in 3 to 1 in 2 men affected. In Europe alone, that's an estimated 54 million men. And it's not just older men. Global rates in men under 40 reached as high as 30% in some data. In Brazil and China, men were developing ED at noticeably younger ages than in the US or Europe.

The study also found clear links to lifestyle including smoking, obesity, heavy drinking, and inactivity longside conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and depression. These aren't coincidences. They're warning signs.

Here's the bigger picture: ED is often dismissed as just a bedroom problem, but it can signal serious underlying health issues — sometimes before they're even diagnosed. Doctors are being urged to start these conversations earlier, and with men as young as their 20s and 30s affected, that conversation can't wait.

What if staying sexually active during menopause could ease some of its worst symptoms?

This study looked at almost 100 menopausal women aged 40-59 to explore how sexual activity relates to menopausal symptoms and sexual function. None of the participants were using hormone therapy, making the findings especially relevant for women managing menopause naturally.

Women who stayed sexually active reported significantly fewer physical and emotional symptoms, like hot flashes, mood changes, and anxiety, compared to those who weren't active. In fact, women who avoided sexual activity scored nearly 6 points higher on the menopause symptom scale, meaning their symptoms were measurably worse. Sexual activity alone predicted about 10% of the difference in symptom severity — regardless of whether menopause was natural or surgical.

Sexually active women also showed better function in 4 key areas: arousal, lubrication, orgasm, and pain.

The study was small and observational, so it can't prove that sex causes better outcomes. Also, women having sex probably have less symptoms of vaginal dryness, discomfort related to the genitourinary syndrome of menopause so probably had less menopausal symptoms to begin with. Regardless, sex is a wonderful tool - if you want it and it’s not painful.

This week, someone asked me, “Why after my chemotherapy and cancer treatments, my sex drive disappeared? I'm also in menopause, 62 y/o but used to be very sexual person. Was able to achieve multiple orgasms at once by control. I enjoyed sex with my husband and now I don't want to look at him nor to myself. I can't masturbating won't give pleasure. Everything is dry, painful, & lubrication isn't helping. is there a cure for ?”. What you’re describing is very common after chemotherapy and menopause, and it’s not “just in your head.” Cancer treatments and hormonal changes can lower estrogen and testosterone, particularly in the vulva leading to dryness, pain, loss of desire, and reduced pleasure. And no one wants sex that’s painful! Lubricants alone often aren’t enough. Options like vaginal estrogen, and DHEA (which are both safe after cancer), pelvic floor therapy, and seeing a specialist to help with the pain directly can help restore comfort. while hormone evaluation and counseling can support desire. You deserve to feel like yourself again, and with the right, personalized approach, improvement is absolutely possible.

I love hearing from you, so if there’s a question you’ve been wanting to ask, just let me know. Who knows? Your question might be the one I dive into next!

First things first — I won a Webby People's Choice Award! And I genuinely mean it when I say this one hits different, because you voted for me. This is your win as much as mine, and it's proof that we are collectively pushing sexual health into the mainstream conversation where it belongs. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I was also a guest on the Diary of a CEO podcast this Monday — one of my favorite conversations I've had in a long time. Please go watch it. You won't regret it.

And last but absolutely not least — pre-orders for my book, The Hard Truth, are officially open. Here's why this matters beyond just getting the book in your hands: every pre-order sale counts toward bestseller list calculations, which means your pre-order directly impacts whether The Hard Truth lands on the New York Times list. That's how we make sexual health impossible to ignore — we put it at the top of the charts.

Pre-order now and you'll unlock almost $500 in bonus goodies just for getting in early. Let's do this together. 👇

Let's talk about how your masturbation habits might actually be shaping your sex life and what you can do to improve things—no shame, just real talk!

Here are some quick takeaways:

Remember, “Your body isn’t broken and this can be fixed.” Curious for more tips? Check out the full episode for simple ways to improve pleasure and control.

Today, I discussed erectile dysfunction meds, “edging,” and why so many women don’t orgasm from sex alone. “The most important thing I want you to understand is that these medications not fixing the underlying problem. You still need to understand why you're having trouble with erections.”

Here are a few quick takeaways:

This episode’s full of relatable tips—definitely worth a listen!

So listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here and see why people are commenting, “Thank you, Dr. Malik. Professional as usual”.

Think you know your bladder? Think again. Check out my new Substack: Weird Bladder Facts: Urologist-Backed Secrets for Better Bladder Health.

In this article, I share surprising bladder truths—from why urgency can feel so intense to how everyday habits impact infections, leaks, and even kidney health—plus simple, science-backed tips to protect your bladder long-term.