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Quiz: Erectile Dysfunction

Test your smarts on the prevalence, causes and treatment of ED

Christina Ianzito,

AARP

En español

Published May 06, 2021

8 Questions

5f7585af-c125-4077-bbcb-78670bcdd480

Quiz: Erectile Dysfunction

[ {
 "question" : "What is erectile dysfunction?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Having an erection at inappropriate times",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "The inability to be sexually attracted to a spouse or romantic partner",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "The inability to develop and maintain an erection for satisfying sexual activity",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "An inability to have an orgasm during sex",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be a complete inability to have an erection, or the inability to stay firm enough for intercourse.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "Beware of combining ED drugs with other medications.",
 "questionImgCredit" : "Getty Images"
}, {
 "question" : "About how many men in the U.S. experience ED?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "5 million",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "10 million",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "20 million",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "30 million",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has estimated that ED affects as many as 30 million American men.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What percentage of men in their 60s experience ED?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "5 percent",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "17 percent",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "28 percent",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "50 percent",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The NIH estimates that 17 percent of men in their 60s (and 47 percent of men older than 75) are unable to achieve an erection — but experts emphasize that ED is treatable regardless of age.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What are some established causes of erectile dysfunction?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Multiple sclerosis and low testosterone",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Diabetes and heart disease",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Obesity and smoking",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "All of these factors can contribute to ED. It is also a common side effect of certain medications, including those for blood pressure and depression.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "How do medications such as Viagra, Cialis, Stendra and Levitra work to reverse erectile dysfunction?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "They release testosterone into the bloodstream, increasing sex drive",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "They increase nitric oxide, relaxing blood vessels in the penis, which helps maintain an erection",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "They send adrenaline to the lower half of the body, encouraging an erection",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "They increase dopamine, a neurotransmitter in the brain that stimulates the body's pleasure centers",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "They are drugs called phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibiters that allow increased blood flow in the penis by enhancing the effects of naturally occurring nitric oxide.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What is a true statement about these popular ED drugs?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "If you are taking a nitrate drug for heart problems you should avoid them",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "You shouldn't take more than three pills in a 24-hour period",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "They often cause an erection of four hours or more",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "All of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Nitrate drugs combined with ED medications can cause dangerously low blood pressure. Discuss your history and symptoms with your doctor before taking any of these drugs, which shouldn't be taken more than once in 24 hours, and very rarely cause an erection lasting four hours or more.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Why do the French refer to Cialis as &quot;le weekend&quot; pill?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "It can be effective for as long as 36 hours — longer than some other ED meds",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "It can cause major distractions if used on a workday",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Cialis means \"weekend bath\" in Latin",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "None of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Depending on the dose, Cialis can be effective for 36 hours, while the normal dose of Viagra or Levitra lasts for up to four hours.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Which of these is not a viable treatment option for ED?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Penis pumps (vacuum devices to pull blood into the penis)",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "A medication called alprostadil injected into the side of the penis",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Inflatable rods implanted on the sides of penis",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Estrogen (sex hormone) gels applied topically",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Estrogen, primarily a female sex hormone, is not used to treat ED. The other three are treatments that have been effective to varying degrees. Talk to your doctor about your options if you are experiencing ED, which shouldn't be considered just a normal part of aging.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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Quiz: Erectile Dysfunction

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Christina Ianzito covers scams and fraud, and is the books editor for aarp.org and AARP The Magazine. Also a longtime travel writer and editor, she received a 2020 Lowell Thomas Award for travel writing from the Society of American Travel Writers Foundation.