Episode 354: Why Gay Men Have a Higher Risk of Erectile Dysfunction

17 snips

Dec 17, 2024

In this discussion, Tom Bruett, a licensed marriage and family therapist and founder of the Queer Relationship Institute, sheds light on the surprising prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) among gay men. The conversation delves into performance anxiety and its effect on sexual health, while also tackling how recreational drugs can influence sexual functioning. Bruett offers practical strategies for improving erectile function and re-evaluates perceptions around premature ejaculation in different contexts, fostering a deeper understanding of queer sexual wellness.

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INSIGHT

ED and PE Prevalence Differences

Gay men experience ED more often than heterosexual men, while premature ejaculation (PE) is more common among heterosexual men.
This may be because PE is sometimes eroticized in the gay community and less of an impediment to pleasure in same-sex male sexual activity.

ADVICE

Managing Performance Pressure

Performance pressure and anxiety can hinder sexual performance.
Focus on being present in the moment, engaging your senses, and having a personal sexual pleasure practice.

ADVICE

Improving Body Image

Curate your social media feeds to avoid constant exposure to unrealistic body ideals.
Find aspects of your body you can tolerate or appreciate, and consider diversifying your sources of visual stimuli.

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Research has found that gay men are substantially more likely to experience erectile dysfunction than heterosexual men, whereas heterosexual men are more likely to experience premature ejaculation than gay men. So what’s up with that? In this episode, we’re going dive into the science that can help to explain this curious pattern, as well as discuss tips for dealing with ED.

I am joined once again by Tom Bruett, a licensed marriage and family therapist, trainer, consultant, and author who works extensively with the queer community. He is the founder of the Queer Relationship Institute, and author of the book The Go-To Relationship Guide for Gay Men: From Honeymoon to Lasting Commitment, which will be published in March 2025.

Some of the specific questions we answer in this episode include:

How common is ED among gay men?
How does performance anxiety impact gay men, and how do you deal with this?
How do recreational drugs impact sexual functioning?
What are some strategies to improve erectile function?
How might rapid ejaculation be viewed differently in gay vs. heterosexual contexts?

You can learn more by checking out the Queer Relationship Institute’s Linktree.

Got a sex question? Send me a podcast voicemail to have it answered on a future episode at speakpipe.com/sexandpsychology.

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The Kinsey Institute at Indiana University has been a trusted source for scientific knowledge and research on critical issues in sexuality, gender, and reproduction for over 75 years. Learn about more research and upcoming events at kinseyinstitute.org or look for them on social media @kinseyinstitute.

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Credits: Precision Podcasting (Podcast editing) and Shutterstock/Florian (Music). Image created with Canva; photos used with permission of guest.