Bengaluru: In the tech capital, where startups sprint

and servers never sleep, doctors are witnessing a very different trend unfold: erectile dysfunction, long considered a condition affecting older men, is increasingly being reported by those in their early 20s.

Though no concrete study has been done with regard to Bengaluru, specialists say the problem is persistent and deeply linked to modern urban lifestyles. Interestingly, the silence around the topic is breaking and more young men are now walking into hospitals, seeking answers for a condition they never imagined would affect them so early in life. What surprises doctors even more is that in most cases, the problem is not physical.

"We are seeing a 20% rise in patients coming to our OPD for treatment of erectile dysfunction compared to the figures five years ago," said Dr Caranj S Venugopal, consultant (urology & renal transplantation) at Aster RV Hospital "If we see 10 cases of erectile dysfunction, only in one or two cases do we see neurological or vascular issues. The remaining cases are all psychological and lifestyle-related erectile dysfunction.In the past, doctors typically saw such patients only if they were above 40 or facing fertility concerns. Today, however, younger men are turning up at clinics more often a reflection, specialists say, of changing sexual behaviour and increased awareness. "Now, the incidence has risen and one of the primary causes is smoking. The other problem is overindulgence in visual stimulation. We also see cases of varicocele (swelling of veins inside the scrotum causing improper blood supply) because of prolonged sitting or standing due to the nature of jobs," explained Dr Sharvari Mundhe, consultant-gynaecology & reproductive medicine, Motherhood Hospital, Sarjapur Road.

Lifestyle habits such as heavy drinking and smoking, dependence on pornographic content, obesity, lack of exercise, and high stress levels are all linked to the rising incidence of erectile dysfunction. "Performance anxiety is becoming more common among those who are sexually involved with multiple partners and those trying for a baby, because of the added stress in such situations." Dr Sharvari added.

While awareness has improved, stigma still lingers. "When they are young, men generally do not expect to have these problems. So, when they do, it gets stuck in their head and becomes even more difficult to get an erection, making this a perpetual cycle. As around 80% of such cases are psychological, the thought cycle should be broken first," said Dr Apurva Satish Amarnath, fertility specialist, Nova IVF Fertility, Kammanahalli,

Young married men are particularly vulnerable, experts note, as erectile dysfunction often disrupts family planning. "When they have it, if they do not come to doctors, men just avoid having intercourse. Couples end up postponing pregnancy because of this and then as the age goes up, more fertility issues crop up," Dr Apurva said.

Among older men, the underlying causes are usually neurological or vascular, often worsened by diabetes and hypertension.

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