20 things your penis could be telling you about your heart

Listen up, fellas...

We probably should.

A growing body of research has found a significant connection between erectile dysfunction (ED) and cardiovascular disease. Crucially, erection problems can sometimes appear years before more obvious heart symptoms.

That's the serious message behind Listen to Jordic [LINK TO JORDIC], a new awareness campaign from JOE which has taken a slightly less serious approach to getting men to pay attention.

At its heart is our hilarious, gloriously over-the-top folk song and music video about erectile dysfunction – complete with Jordic and his merry band – designed to make an awkward subject much easier to talk about.

But behind the laughs there's some genuinely important science. One major analysis involving more than 150,000 people found men with ED had a 43 per cent higher risk of cardiovascular disease, a 59 per cent higher risk of coronary heart disease and a 34 per cent higher risk of stroke than men without ED.

Yet there's still a huge awareness gap. A UK survey of 2,000 men found 78 per cent didn't know ED could be a sign of heart disease, while almost half said they wouldn't visit their doctor if they experienced persistent erection problems.

So, in the spirit of listening to Jordic [LINK TO JORDIC], here are 20 things every man should probably know about erectile dysfunction and what it could be telling you about your heart.

1. Men with erectile dysfunction have a 43% higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease than men without ED. (ZHA 2019)
2. Erectile dysfunction is associated with a 59% higher risk of coronary heart disease. (ZHA 2019)
3. Men with erectile dysfunction have a 34% higher risk of stroke. (ZHA 2019)
4. ED is associated with a 33% higher risk of death from any cause. (ZHA 2019)
5. The more severe the erectile dysfunction, the greater the risk of future cardiovascular disease and premature death. (ZHA 2019)
6. An umbrella review of multiple meta-analyses found men with ED have a 45% higher risk of cardiovascular disease overall. (MOS 2021)
7. That same review found ED is linked to a 50% higher risk of coronary heart disease. (MOS 2021)
8. Men with ED also have around a 50% higher risk of dying from cardiovascular disease. (MOS 2021)
9. The latest Princeton IV Consensus says men presenting with erectile dysfunction should be considered at risk of future cardiac events "until proven otherwise." (KOH)
10. Erectile dysfunction typically appears between two and five years before a first heart attack or other cardiovascular symptoms. (KOH)
11. In a study of 300 men with confirmed coronary artery disease, 67% developed erectile dysfunction before their heart disease became clinically apparent. (MON 2003)
12. In those same patients, the average gap between the onset of erectile dysfunction and heart disease symptoms was 38.8 months (just over three years). (MON 2003)
13. Researchers concluded that erectile dysfunction may be an early predictor of ischaemic heart disease, rather than simply another symptom of ageing. (MON 2003)
14. The arteries supplying the penis are much smaller than the coronary arteries, meaning they can become narrowed by atherosclerosis earlier and produce symptoms sooner. (SAL 2026)
15. Experts say erectile dysfunction should form part of routine cardiovascular risk assessment, particularly in younger men where it can be an especially important warning sign. (JAC 2013)
16. Half of men who die suddenly from cardiovascular disease have experienced no previous heart-related symptoms, highlighting the importance of recognising earlier warning signs elsewhere in the body. (KOH)
17. Nearly one in two UK men say they would not visit a doctor if they experienced persistent erectile dysfunction. (TRT 2024)
18. Four in five men say they would not discuss erectile dysfunction with friends or family, underlining the stigma that still surrounds the condition. (TRT 2024)
19. Seventy-eight per cent of UK men surveyed were unaware that erectile dysfunction is a recognised sign of heart disease. (TRT 2024)
20. Sixty-three per cent of men believe erectile dysfunction is simply a normal part of ageing, despite medical experts warning it can be a symptom of an underlying health condition. (TRT 2024)