Dr Amir Khan warns common bedroom problem could indicate killer disease

Dr Amir Khan has urged anyone suffering from a common bedroom-related health issue to not be "embarrassed" and "see a doctor".

A 21-year-old listener wrote to the Private Parts podcast last year to ask Dr Khan about erectile dysfunction, but he said the "most common reason" for somebody of this age to have the issue was likely "to be anxiety".

The TV doctor, who has appeared on This Morning and Good Morning Britain, said "there could be other reasons" if the person is slightly older, including "heart disease" and other conditions.

Dr Khan said: "However, if you're an older person, over 35, over 40, there could be other reasons. So, to get an erection, Jamie, you need good blood flow to the penis.

"And for good blood flow, you need good open blood... healthy blood vessels in the penis. But the blood vessels in the penis are thin and tiny, and it doesn't take much to clog them up."

He continued: "So, if there's a problem with the blood flow, it could be because of cholesterol in the blood vessels. It could be because of damage from high blood sugars. It could be the first symptom of type 2 diabetes.

"You should go and get checked out for those things because if there's cholesterol or sugar in the blood vessels in the penis, there's a good chance there's cholesterol and sugar damaging the blood vessels to the heart.

"So it could be the first symptom of not just type 2 diabetes but heart disease as well. Go and get checked out."

The GP also went into further detail about erectile dysfunction in younger people, saying anxiety was most likely, with it being the "the pressure, perhaps".

He said it becomes a "vicious cycle" because when people are trying to have sex, they're "so worried" about "not being able to get an erection", it reduces their chances of "getting an erection", so they need psychosexual counselling.

Erectile dysfunction (also known as impotence) is very common, especially in men over 40, according to the NHS. It also says it's often nothing to worry about, but you should see a doctor if it keeps happening.

The condition is defined as someone being unable to either get an erection or keep an erection for long enough to have sex, with some common causes including stress, tiredness, some medicine side effects or too much alcohol.

It can, however, occur more often due to high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, depression, or anxiety hormone problems.