Erectile problem rampant in Jakarta: Survey
Erectile problem rampant in Jakarta: Survey
Muninggar Sri Saraswati, The Jakarta Post, Jakarta
The unhealthy urban lifestyle led by many Jakartans is a factor
that could lead to erectile dysfunction among male professionals.
An examination of 3,082 male professionals over 30 years of
age in the city revealed that 53 percent of the participants
suffered some degree of erectile dysfunction.
As many as 1,518 were in early stages of erectile dysfunction,
81 in the middle level while 25 others suffered severe erectile
dysfunction.
The examination was held by pharmacy company Pfizer and INA-
EDACT (Indonesia Erectile Dysfunction Advisory Council and
Training), a forum to educate people on erectile dysfunction, in
50 locations here between January to July. Most of the
examinations were held in offices, the rest in apartments and
golf courses.
The method used in the study was the International Index of
Erectile Functions-5 (IIEF-5) questionnaire. The participants
were required to answer five questions about their sexual
activity.
IIEF-5 is the simplest method to detect erectile dysfunction,
according to Dr. Arif Adimoelja, the chairman of INA-EDACT. He
said that the condition developed due to either physical or
mental pressure.
"Professionals usually lead an unhealthy lifestyle. They eat
unhealthy food, drink alcohol and smoke, but never exercise. At
the same time, they are facing pressure in their job," he told
reporters on Saturday.
An unhealthy lifestyle could result in several diseases,
including diabetes mellitus, high-cholesterol levels and
hypertension, that could result in erectile dysfunction.
"Most people, particularly those in early stage of erectile
dysfunction, are not aware that they suffer from that," Dr. Arif
explained.
To overcome the problem, he urged people to adopt a healthy
lifestyle and start to exercise. For those who already suffer
from erectile dysfunction, he suggested they seek help from their
doctors and discuss it with their partners.
"Erectile dysfunction is not a small problem because it
influences not only the man but also his partner," Dr. Arif said.
There is no equivalent examination available for female
professionals.