Addressing the Issue
Addressing genitourinary-signaled issues has the double benefit of easing ED and LUTS and improving men’s health and longevity and may help narrow the worldwide gender gap in life expectancy. As a recent global analysis found, there’s a 5-year longevity disparity favoring women over men. Biology aside, men do not access healthcare as often as women, who consult their general practitioners regularly throughout their lifespan for multiple reasons, including reproductive care, and more screening programs are aimed at women.
Added Dr. Tsambarlis, “Men should know that losing weight and switching to a healthy lifestyle can improve sexual function about half as much as phosphodiesterase 5 inhibitors such as sildenafil [Viagra] or tadalafil [Cialis].”
“Many, however, would prefer just to take drugs rather than change their lifestyle and lose weight. There are certainly effective options available, but these are not uniformly effective,” said Dr. Weiss.
Dr. Tafari’s group is designing a short, simple, culturally acceptable screening tool for use in primary care practice and will monitor its impact on physician prescribing habits and overall men’s health outcomes.
Dr. Tafari received funding from the Hospital Research Foundation and Freemasons Centre for Male Health and Wellbeing in Adelaide, South Australia. Dr. Tafari, Dr. Tsambarlis, Dr. Weiss, and Dr. Richards had no relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
A version of this article appeared on Medscape.com.