A 55-year-old man, who has been married for three decades and has a happy family life, recently began experiencing impotence, which caused discord in his marriage. Eventually going to see a doctor saved his marriage. Around 25 percent of men over the age of 40 in Taiwan suffer from erectile dysfunction (ED), says Chen Ping-hung, a doctor in Sinlau Hospital’s department of urology in Greater Tainan’s Madou District, while less than 10 percent of them actually go to see a doctor. ED can be effectively treated, so you should not evade the issue or naively trust folk remedies, Chen says.
Chen says that when he recently received the 55-year-old male patient, surnamed Lin, he came into his office hemming and hawing around. It was only after asking him a number of questions, that Lin finally said he has been married for 30 years, has a happy family life and two sons, but that over the past year has been experiencing impotence in the bedroom, diminishing his feelings of masculinity and creating distance in his conjugal relationship. After taking medicine that the doctor gave him, Lin recovered his machismo and the state of marital bliss was returned.
Many men suffer from ED in Taiwan, Chen says, adding that according to statistics around 25 percent of men over the age of 40 have ED, which grows more prevalent as age increases. However, less than 10 percent of men with ED go to see a doctor. The disorder can be split into psychogenic (psychological) and reflexive (physical) categories. Stress, discord with one’s sexual partner, low self-esteem, bad sexual experiences or having other sexual partners are the most common psychological causes of ED. It takes time for a doctor to understand a patient’s problems, and typically the sexual partner is invited to join conversations with the doctor. If necessary ED drugs are used as a supplement.
Photo: EPA
照片：歐新社
Reflexive ED can be caused by hormonal, neurological and vascular issues or diabetes. Hormonal causes usually occur among seniors and obese people, which can be improved by taking hormonal supplements or losing weight. ED caused by neurological issues typically occurs among people with nerve damage, while vascular ED issues can be caused by peripheral vascular disease or vascular pressure issues in the penis’ corpus cavernosum. It is important to quit smoking, adopt regular living habits and control one’s chronic diseases, Chen says.
(Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat)
一名五十五歲的男性結婚三十年，家庭美滿，近來卻因陰莖硬度不足，造成夫妻失和，到醫院治療才挽回家庭。麻豆新樓醫院泌尿科醫師陳秉鴻說，台灣四十歲以上的男性勃起障礙發生率約百分之二十五，求診比例卻不到十分之一，其實勃起障礙可有效治療，切勿逃避，更不要輕信偏方。
Photo: Huang Po-lang, Liberty Times
照片：自由時報記者黃博郎
陳秉鴻表示，日前門診來了一位五十五歲的林姓病患，一進門欲言又止，經仔細問診才說出已結婚三十年，家庭美滿，育有二子，但近一年來，他和太太行房時陰莖硬度不足，不僅讓他男性雄風盡失，也造成夫妻失和。經藥物治療後，病患已重振雄風，家庭恢復和樂。
陳秉鴻說，台灣有陰莖勃起功能障礙的男性不少，據統計，四十歲以上勃起障礙的發生率約百分之二十五，隨著年齡逐步提高，但尋求正統醫療幫助者卻不到十分之一。男性勃起障礙可分為「心因性」和「器質性」。心因性勃起障礙常見的原因為壓力、與性伴侶感情不睦、自信心不足、性經驗不佳或有其他性伴侶。治療時需了解病人的難處，邀性伴侶加入討論，必要時可輔佐壯陽藥物。
器質性勃起障礙成因分為荷爾蒙性、神經性、血管性、糖尿病引起和藥物引起。荷爾蒙性勃起障礙常發生在老年人及肥胖者，可藉由補充荷爾蒙和減重改善；神經性勃起障礙發生在神經受損病人；血管性勃起障礙，則導因於周邊末梢血管功能不佳或陰莖海綿體靜脈瓣膜功能不良，戒菸、正常作息及控制慢性病都很重要。
（自由時報記者黃博郎）
The 2025 Seoul International Book Fair was held from June 18 to 22 at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Center in Seoul, South Korea. This year, participants from 17 countries attended, with over 530 publishing houses and related organizations taking part. For the first time, Taiwan participated in the book fair as the Guest of Honor, bringing together more than 85 publishers and presenting a curated selection of 550 titles. A delegation of 23 Taiwanese creatives traveled to Seoul to attend the event, including 13 literary authors, six illustrators, and four comic book artists, among which were a film director, an
The new generation born between 2025 and 2039 has been officially named “Generation Beta,” or simply “Gen Beta.” This generation will be the first to experience a world where artificial intelligence (AI) plays a key role in daily life. Generations are defined by shared cultural, social and historical experiences within a specific time frame. These experiences, often influenced by significant events and technological advancements, shape the values, attitudes and behaviors of each generation. The concept of generations helps us understand how different age groups interact with their environment and contribute to societal changes over time. The previous generational transition from Gen
In late 2024, the suicide of acclaimed Taiwanese author Chiung Yao at 86 sparked a societal debate. She expressed her desire to avoid the difficult aging process and sought to govern her own death rather than leave it to fate. Her statements propelled the issue of “euthanasia” back into the public arena, posing the question of whether Taiwan should legalize euthanasia to grant patients and the elderly the right to die with dignity. Euthanasia, the intentional ending of a life to relieve suffering, is legal for humans in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium but remains prohibited in Taiwan.
Continued from yesterday（延續自昨日） https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang As Gen Beta grows, they are expected to witness advanced technologies becoming fully integrated into various fields like education, workplaces, healthcare and entertainment. In addition to technological developments, they will also face big challenges like severe climate change. Influenced by their Gen Y or Gen Z parents, who view climate change as a critical issue for the future and prioritize sustainability, they are likely to focus more on global issues and seek innovative solutions to address them. Moreover, Gen Beta will experience considerable demographic changes, such as lower birth rates and longer lifespans. Consequently, Gen Beta is predicted to
RSS