Men who avoid treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) may be putting themselves at an increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, according to a study published in The Journal for Sexual Medicine.

During a recent trial, researchers monitored the use of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors (PDE5is), a type of ED treatment, in a total of 11,889 sexually active men. The team then analyzed the results to determine how many men went to their primary care doctors for treatments for the disorder.

The investigators discovered that approximately three out of every 10 men who participated in the study had acquired PDE5is without consulting a physician.

Mike Kirby, author of the study, stated that these men may "not only expose themselves to the risks of using unapproved and uncontrolled products, but also miss important information on product use and contraindications." He added that they don’t "receive appropriate health information regarding the importance of medical follow-up for unrecognised cardiovascular disease often seen in combination with ED."

Currently, approximately 30 million American men have been diagnosed with ED, the Minnesota Men’s Health Center report.