Most men think of erectile dysfunction (ED) as a bedroom problem — but a landmark study suggests it might actually be a warning sign of something far more serious. Researchers followed over 9,000 men aged 55 and older across 221 U.S. centers for 7 years, tracking who developed ED and who later had heart problems.

The results were eye-opening. Men who developed ED during the study were 25% more likely to later suffer a heart attack, stroke, or other cardiovascular event — even after accounting for age, blood pressure, cholesterol, and smoking. When men who already had ED at the start were included, that risk jumped to 45% higher. In fact, the heart risk tied to ED was just as strong as the risk from smoking or having a parent with heart disease.

What makes this especially important is the timing. ED often showed up before the heart problems — meaning it could serve as an early clue that something is wrong with the blood vessels. Within 5 years of developing ED, about 11% of men in the study had already experienced a cardiovascular event.

The takeaway is clear: ED should never be brushed off as just a sexual issue. Doctors and patients alike should treat it as a possible red flag for heart disease and use it as a prompt to check blood pressure, cholesterol, and other heart health markers right away.

Most people think of testosterone as a "male hormone" — but it turns out, it may be one of the most effective tools we have for helping postmenopausal women reclaim their sexual health and wellbeing.

This major study analyzed 36 high-quality clinical trials involving 8,480 women to answer one big question: Is testosterone safe and effective for women? The researchers looked at everything — sexual function, heart health, bone strength, mood, and memory — making this the most thorough review of its kind to date.

The results for sexual health were striking. Women who used testosterone reported meaningful improvements in desire, arousal, orgasm, pleasure, and even how they felt about themselves sexually.

The side effects were mild — some women noticed a little more acne or hair growth — but no serious health events, breast problems, or heart issues were linked to testosterone use. The study does note that more research is still needed on long-term safety, effects on memory and bone strength, and use in younger, premenopausal women. For now, the evidence is clear: for postmenopausal women struggling with low sexual desire, a skin-applied (transdermal) testosterone treatment may be a safe, real solution — and one that deserves far more attention than it currently gets.

This week, someone asked me, “Any new meds for treating ED that are not PDE5 inhibitors? I cannot tolerate any PDE5 inhibitors as they significantly exacerbate my GERD making it almost impossible to eat on days when I take those meds.” Because GERD can make PDE5 inhibitors difficult to tolerate for some men. The good news is that there are effective alternatives that don’t rely on those medications. Options include vacuum erection devices, intraurethral suppositories containing prostaglandin E1, and penile injections such as alprostadil or Trimix, which can be very effective for men who cannot take ED pills. For more severe cases, a penile implant is also an excellent option. I’d encourage you to see a urologist who specializes in sexual medicine, because there are absolutely effective treatments beyond PDE5 inhibitors that can help you regain a satisfying sex life.

Also you can learn more about these options on our recent podcast.

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!

I’m recovering well after a breast cancer surgery and now 4 weeks out. I will be starting ovarian suppression treatment next week and my husband will likely be starting chemotherapy for his colorectal cancer. We're both in good spirits and trying to make the best of it.

In other news, my Better Sex App has 20% off right now until July 3rd. If you're interested in checking that out, I think the best feature is that it has the AI version of you where you can ask all your questions to but it and it also is personalized to whatever situation or issue you might be having.

Also this week my conversation the Adversity Advantage podcast about why people are having less sex released. Check it out.

I talked about why you should think twice before spending money on testosterone supplements and what actually works to support healthy testosterone levels. “Even bigger than figuring out a vitamin to take is fixing the foundation of your overall health.”

Here are some quick takeaways

Bottom line: Don’t skip the basics—supplements aren’t a magic fix! Take care of your overall health first, and always check with a healthcare professional before starting anything new.

Want to dive deeper? Listen to the full episode for more tips and details!

I had an eye-opening conversation with Dr. Katie Lee all about how your mouth affects your whole body—including your sex life! I was shocked when Dr. Katie Lee said: “There’s really no benefit whatsoever for mouthwash… They kill all the good and the bad bacteria in the mouth.”

Here are a few quick takeaways:

Honestly, it blew my mind how much your teeth and gums can reveal about your overall health. Trust me, you’ll never look at floss the same way again. So listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or here and see why people are commenting, “Wonderful interview Ladies”.

Want a free tool that can improve your heart health, mood, weight, and overall well-being? Check out my new Substack: The Overlooked Superpower for Heart Health, Weight Loss & Happiness.

In this article, I explore the science of sleep, how it affects nearly every system in your body, and the simple habits that can help you wake up healthier, happier, and more energized.