If Sexual Dysfunction Were a Virus, "It'd Be Pandemic": Expert

After more than 30 years of marriage, Ernie and Cynthia Dillard thought their sex life was over.

I never thought that ED (erectile dysfunction) was something I would have to deal with, Ernie Dillard said. I felt like I was not meeting my responsibilities as a husband, as a man. Somethings wrong, youre getting too old; you cant have sex anymore. All the negative things popped up.

Cynthia Dillard thought it was her fault.

My first reaction was, Its me. I guess Im not sexy enough anymore, and he kept saying no, but he didnt want to talk about it either, Cynthia Dillard said.

Their experience is common, according to sexual health expert Dr. Lawrence Paletz of Western Institute for Sexual Health.

Fifty percent of all males and females in our population, over the age of 40, have some sort of sexual dysfunction, Paletz said, Its very common. In fact, if this was a virus, it would be pandemic.

The problem is when couples dont communicate about it. And at first, Ernie and Cynthia didnt.

Its not talked about, Ernie Dillard said. You see all the ads for the pills. Nobody talks about what is going on, how to deal with it. Cause its deep. I was getting worn out just thinking about it.

Paletz said sexual dysfunction is not just a male problem.

About one-third of males dont talk to their doctors about it. Worse than that is less than ten percent of females speak to their physicians about it, he said.

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If Sexual Dysfunction Were a Virus, "It'd Be Pandemic": Expert