Does vegetarianism cause erectile dysfunction?

I am 38 years old, my body mass index is at the level of obesity level one (27). Through research, I found that vegetarianism not only helps to lose weight but is also good for health, preventing many diseases.

However, I heard that vegetarianism can weaken sexual function. Please advise me, doctor. (Hoang An, Bien Hoa, Dong Nai)

Reply:

Vegetarianism, eating only plants, eliminating animal foods is the choice of many people for many reasons (religion, preferences). Eating vegetarian properly, ensuring the necessary nutrients for the body can bring many health benefits such as helping to maintain a reasonable weight, avoid obesity, reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, protect the intestines. However, if you eat improperly, the body will lack nutrients, affect health and cause erectile dysfunction in men.

If you eat vegetarian food incorrectly, it will affect your fertility. Photo: Freepik

For sexual activity to take place smoothly, three factors are needed: nerves, hormones (testosterone) and blood vessels (related to nitric oxide). When there is sexual stimulation, the brain will send signals to the spinal cord and erectile tissues located in the two corpora cavernosa in the penis and help blood flow here quickly and in sufficient quantity to carry out the erection process. However, vegetarians are very susceptible to iron, zinc, protein, vitamin B12 deficiencies... which are substances that help increase blood and sexual activity to take place normally.

These nutrients are often found in animal meat, eggs, milk and less in some vegetables, nuts, cereals, dried seeds, fresh fruits, beans... Therefore, vegetarians must know how to choose the right foods, enough quantity to supplement daily. However, to do this is very difficult, few people can do it, so vegetarianism has a high risk of leading to erectile dysfunction due to lack of nutrients. In particular, vegetarian men are prone to iron deficiency, vitamin B deficiency can cause testicular atrophy, decreased physiological health, sperm not producing enough quantity and quality, reduced fertility.

To ensure health and physiological ability, men need to have a scientific diet, balancing the 4 groups of nutrients necessary for the body: starch, protein, fat, vitamins and minerals in a balanced ratio. Foods rich in protein and fat for vegetarians are concentrated in eggs, milk, dairy products, mushrooms, beans and cereals, nuts, avocados, and vegetable oils.

In addition, men also need to maintain a 30-60 minute exercise regimen every day. Physical exercise not only improves the immune system, helps muscles stay flexible, but is also a way to improve the body's hormone levels, effectively enhancing physiological ability. Men can apply exercises such as gym, weight lifting, jogging, swimming, yoga, kegel.

Doctor Doan Ngoc Thien
Department of Andrology, Tam Anh General Hospital, Ho Chi Minh City

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