In Bengaluru, India's bustling technology hub, a surprising and concerning health trend is emerging. Medical specialists are observing a significant increase in young men, some in their early twenties, seeking help for erectile dysfunction (ED), a condition traditionally associated with older age groups.
A Silent Epidemic Among the Young
While no city-specific study has been conducted yet, urologists and fertility experts confirm the pattern is unmistakable and deeply connected to contemporary urban living. The silence surrounding this intimate issue is finally breaking, with more young men approaching hospitals for a problem they never expected to face so early in life.
Dr. Caranj S Venugopal, a consultant in urology & renal transplantation at Aster RV Hospital, reveals a stark statistic: "We are seeing a 20% rise in patients coming to our OPD for treatment of erectile dysfunction compared to the figures five years ago." He further clarifies that in most cases, the root cause is not physical. "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."
Lifestyle: The Primary Culprit
Doctors point to a cluster of modern habits as the driving force behind this rise. Dr. Sharvari Mundhe, a consultant in gynaecology & reproductive medicine at Motherhood Hospital, Sarjapur Road, identifies key factors: smoking, overindulgence in visual stimulation or pornography, and conditions like varicocele caused by prolonged sitting or standing at tech jobs.
The list of contributing lifestyle elements is extensive and familiar to many urban professionals:
- Heavy drinking and smoking
- Dependence on pornographic content
- Obesity and lack of physical exercise
- Chronically high stress levels
Dr. Mundhe also highlights that performance anxiety is becoming more common, especially among men with multiple sexual partners or those under pressure to conceive a child.
The Psychological Cycle and Its Impact
Despite growing awareness, stigma persists, exacerbating the problem. Dr. Apurva Satish Amarnath, a fertility specialist at Nova IVF Fertility, Kammanahalli, explains the vicious cycle: "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." He estimates that around 80% of such cases in young men are psychological, requiring the thought cycle to be broken first through counseling and therapy.
This issue carries significant consequences for relationships and family planning. Young married men are particularly vulnerable, as ED often leads to avoiding intercourse, which in turn postpones pregnancy. "Couples end up postponing pregnancy because of this and then as the age goes up, more fertility issues crop up," Dr. Apurva notes.
In contrast, for older men, ED is more frequently linked to physical causes like neurological or vascular damage, often aggravated by conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
The trend in Bengaluru underscores a critical public health message: sexual wellness in the digital age is profoundly influenced by daily habits, mental health, and work culture, demanding open conversation and proactive healthcare among India's younger generation.
