4 Common Misconceptions About Erectile Dysfunction: Getting the Facts Right​

阳痿，医学上称为勃起功能障碍（ED），是影响许多男性的常见健康问题。在新加坡，尽管医疗信息发达，但围绕ED的误解仍然存在，这些误解常常阻碍男性寻求正确的帮助。正确认识这些误区，是迈向有效管理和恢复健康的第一步。本文将澄清四个最常见的误解。

Erectile Dysfunction (ED) is a common health issue affecting many men. In Singapore, despite advanced medical information, misconceptions surrounding ED persist, often preventing men from seeking the right help. Understanding these misconceptions correctly is the first step towards effective management and recovery. This article clarifies four of the most common myths.

​误区一：阳痿是衰老的必然结果，无法改变​
​Misconception 1: ED is an Inevitable Part of Aging and Cannot Be Changed​

​误解：​​ 许多人认为，随着年龄增长，出现阳痿是正常且不可避免的，只能默默接受。
​Misconception:​​ Many believe that experiencing ED is a normal and unavoidable part of getting older, something one must simply accept.

​正解：​​ 虽然年龄增长是ED的一个风险因素，但它绝非必然结果。健康的老年男性依然可以拥有满意的性生活。实际上，许多看似因“年龄”导致的问题，往往与年龄相关的健康问题有关，如高血压、糖尿病、心血管疾病等。这些疾病会影响血管健康，而勃起功能高度依赖于良好的血液流动。通过积极管理这些慢性病、保持健康的生活方式，完全可以显著延缓或改善与年龄相关的性功能变化。
​Clarification:​​ While aging is a risk factor for ED, it is by no means inevitable. Healthy older men can still enjoy satisfying sex lives. In fact, many issues seemingly attributed to “age” are often related to age-associated health conditions like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. These conditions affect vascular health, which is crucial for erections. By actively managing these chronic conditions and maintaining a healthy lifestyle, one can significantly delay or improve age-related changes in sexual function.

​误区二：发生一次困难，就是阳痿​
​Misconception 2: One Instance of Difficulty Means You Have ED​

​误解：​​ 偶尔一次因为疲惫、压力、饮酒过量或状态不佳而无法勃起或维持勃起，就给自己贴上“阳痿”的标签。
​Misconception:​​ Labeling oneself as having “ED” after just one occasional failure to achieve or maintain an erection due to fatigue, stress, excessive alcohol, or simply an off day.

​正解：​​ 医学上对ED的定义是：在至少3个月的时间内，持续或反复出现无法达到和/或维持足够硬度的勃起以完成满意的性生活。偶尔的失误是非常普遍的现象，几乎每位男性都会经历。过度关注单次失败，反而会产生焦虑情绪，可能将偶然事件演变成持续的问题。重要的是关注整体趋势，而非孤立事件。
​Clarification:​​ The medical definition of ED involves a persistent or recurrent inability to achieve and/or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance, over a period of at least 3 months. Occasional difficulties are extremely common and experienced by almost all men. Focusing excessively on a single failure can create anxiety, potentially turning an isolated incident into a persistent problem. It’s important to look at the overall pattern, not isolated events.

​误区三：保健品和偏方比正规治疗更安全有效​
​Misconception 3: Health Supplements and Folk Remedies are Safer and More Effective than Medical Treatment​

​误解：​​ 受到广告或朋友推荐影响，认为“纯天然”的保健品、草药或偏方没有副作用，且能“根治”阳痿，从而回避去看医生。
​Misconception:​​ Influenced by advertisements or friend recommendations, some believe that “all-natural” health supplements, herbs, or folk remedies have no side effects and can “cure” ED, leading them to avoid seeing a doctor.

​正解：​​ 这是非常危险的想法。首先，许多保健品成分不明，可能含有未标明的药物成分（如高剂量PDE5抑制剂），其剂量不受控制，可能与您正在服用的其他药物发生相互作用，带来健康风险。新加坡卫生科学局（HSA）严格监管药品，但保健品市场则复杂得多。其次，ED成因复杂，需对症下药。正规医生会进行系统评估，找到根本原因（是血管、神经、激素还是心理问题），然后提供经科学验证、安全有效的治疗方案（如口服药物、真空勃起装置、心理咨询等）。偏方往往治标不治本，且可能延误对潜在严重疾病（如心脏病）的诊断。
​Clarification:​​ This is a very dangerous misconception. Firstly, many supplements have unknown ingredients and may contain undeclared pharmaceutical substances (like high doses of PDE5 inhibitors). Their dosage is uncontrolled and can interact with other medications you are taking, posing health risks. While the HSA strictly regulates pharmaceuticals, the supplement market is more complex. Secondly, ED has complex causes that require targeted treatment. A proper doctor will conduct a systematic assessment to find the root cause (whether vascular, neurological, hormonal, or psychological) and then provide scientifically proven, safe, and effective treatment options (such as oral medication, vacuum erection devices, or psychological counseling). Folk remedies often only address symptoms, not the cause, and can delay the diagnosis of underlying serious conditions (like heart disease).

​误区四：谈论阳痿很丢脸，必须自己解决​
​Misconception 4: Talking About ED is Shameful and Must Be Handled Alone​

​误解：​​ 受传统观念影响，认为性能力直接等同于男子气概，讨论勃起问题是非常尴尬和丢脸的事情，所以选择独自承受，默默上网搜索或尝试各种方法。
​Misconception:​​ Influenced by traditional beliefs, some equate sexual performance with masculinity, making discussions about erectile problems deeply embarrassing and shameful. This leads to suffering in silence, searching online, or trying various methods alone.

​正解：​​ ED是一个常见的医学问题，与感冒、糖尿病或高血压一样，需要的是专业的医疗帮助，而不是羞愧和沉默。医生每天都会处理这类问题，他们会以专业、保密和非评判的态度为您提供帮助。与伴侣进行坦诚的沟通也至关重要，她的理解与支持能极大地减轻您的心理压力，甚至共同面对问题本身（例如，如果是关系压力导致的）。勇敢地寻求帮助，是强者和对自己健康负责的表现。
​Clarification:​​ ED is a common medical condition. Like having a cold, diabetes, or high blood pressure, it requires professional medical help, not shame and silence. Doctors deal with these issues daily and will provide help in a professional, confidential, and non-judgmental manner. Having an open conversation with your partner is also crucial. Her understanding and support can significantly reduce your psychological burden and may even help address the root cause (e.g., if it’s related to relationship stress). Courageously seeking help is a sign of strength and responsibility for one’s own health.

​总结 | Conclusion​
正确认识阳痿，是克服它的基础。请记住，ED并非衰老的必然，也非一次失败所能定义；盲目使用保健品风险高，而寻求专业帮助则是智慧与勇敢的表现。如果您正受此困扰，请放下不必要的包袱，咨询新加坡的家庭医生或泌尿科医生，迈出科学解决的第一步。

Understanding ED correctly is the foundation for overcoming it. Remember, ED is not an inevitable part of aging, nor is it defined by a single incident; self-medicating with supplements carries high risks, while seeking professional help is an act of wisdom and courage. If you are experiencing this issue, please let go of unnecessary baggage and take the first step towards a scientific solution by consulting a family doctor or urologist in Singapore.