Handbook on male sexual health released in Shanghai

More than 40 percent of Chinese men over age 40 suffer from erectile dysfunction of different levels, while more than one-third of men in the country are afflicted by premature ejaculation, which usually comes along with erectile dysfunction, said medical experts.

ED incidence increases with age and is showing a tendency of afflicting younger individuals, they said at an event when a handbook, probably the first of its kind about men's sexual health in the country, was released in Shanghai on Sunday.

Common chronic diseases, such as hyperlipidemia, hypertension, high blood sugar, prostate diseases and infertility as well as mental health problems are usually their triggers, and such chronic diseases are often comorbid diseases of male sexual health diseases, according to the handbook, a joint work result of clinical medical experts from around the country.

Initiated by a public welfare fund under the China Primary Health Care Foundation, the handbook sorted out the causes of male sexual health diseases in a comprehensive manner and put forward the treatment concept of co-treatment of comorbidity and involving their partners.

The treatment of male sexual health diseases should be aimed at improving function, elevating satisfaction, rendering a higher quality of life for both partners and delaying the progression of the disease, according to the handbook.

Liu Jihong, a surgeon of urology at Tongji Hospital Affiliated with Tongji Medical College of Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan city, Hubei province, and an expert participating in compiling the handbook, said that many factors, including the influence of rising chronic diseases, are impacting on many to have high-quality sex these days.

"We hope that through the release of the handbook, more members of the public will pay attention to sexual health diseases of men, so that patients can obtain timely, standardized diagnosis and treatment. We also emphasize the value of involving partners in the treatment process," he said.

Some experts also mentioned that only a very small proportion of ED sufferers go to seek medical advice. They suggested individuals with suspected symptoms to use international authoritative questionnaires for self-testing and go to see a doctor for further examination if necessary.