Overview
- Researchers published a peer-reviewed study on Wednesday that tracked 826 full-time men aged 22–40 and found a clear dose–response link between accumulated workplace psychological stress and worse erectile function.
- Men in the highest-stress group had an erectile dysfunction prevalence of about 54% and roughly ten times the odds of ED compared with the lowest-stress group.
- The study identified a temporal sequence in which cortisol rose first, testosterone fell two to four weeks later, and measurable erectile decline followed after another four to six weeks, implying a 6–10-week window for action.
- Long working hours and promotion pressure were the main stress drivers linked to higher cortisol while supervisor support was associated with preserved testosterone and lower ED risk.
- Authors recommend combining workplace stress assessment with hormone testing to flag at-risk men, but the finding is observational and needs replication before clinical guidelines or workplace rules change.