Sexual Dysfunction Treatment in Las Vegas
                     Sexual Dysfunction
Treatment in Las Vegas
A Comprehensive, Evidence-Based Report on the Causes of
Sexual Dysfunction, Its Link to Serious Health Conditions, and
How It Is Treated at LV Longevity Lab
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD A SIGNAL
Orthopedic Surgeon  ·  West Point Graduate  ·  Las Vegas Longevity
Physician WORTH
LV Longevity Lab  ·  Las Vegas, Nevada HEARING.
The body's early warning
MORE THAN A QUALITY-OF-LIFE ISSUE
Sexual Dysfunction: A Common Problem With
Serious Implications
Sexual dysfunction is one of the most common, and most under-discussed, health concerns among
adults. It affects tens of millions of men and women, yet stigma and embarrassment keep many from
seeking help. This silence is costly, because a growing body of research shows that sexual dysfunction is
frequently more than a private frustration. It can be an early, measurable warning sign of serious
underlying disease.
This report examines what the evidence actually shows: how common sexual dysfunction is, what causes
it, how closely it is tied to cardiovascular and metabolic disease, and the profound psychological and
relationship consequences it carries. It then explains how Dr. Wallace Brucker and LV Longevity Lab in
Las Vegas approach diagnosis and treatment, using comprehensive testing to find and address root
causes for both men and women.
Sexual function depends on healthy blood vessels, balanced hormones, and intact nerve
signaling. When it declines, it can be the first visible sign that one of those systems is in trouble.
The Scale of the Problem
52% 44% 300M
of men aged 40–70 experience some of U.S. women report at least one men projected to have ED worldwide by
degree of erectile dysfunction sexual problem 2025
Sources: Massachusetts Male Aging Study (Feldman et al.); PRESIDE study (Shifren et al.); J Sex Med (Zhao et al., 2019).
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THE EVIDENCE: MEN
How Common Is Erectile Dysfunction?
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is the most common sexual dysfunction in men worldwide. The landmark
Massachusetts Male Aging Study (MMAS), a community-based study of men aged 40 to 70, found that
52% experienced some degree of erectile dysfunction, a figure that rises sharply with age, reaching
roughly 70% in men over 70. Globally, more than 100 million men are estimated to have ED, a number
projected to exceed 300 million by 2025.
Prevalence of erectile dysfunction by age group. Source: Massachusetts Male Aging Study (Feldman et al., J Urol; Prev Med 2000).
Critically, the MMAS and subsequent research make clear that ED is not simply an inevitable
consequence of aging. Age-related hormone decline alone accounts for fewer than 5% of cases. In the
large majority of men, ED reflects an identifiable, often treatable, underlying cause, most commonly
vascular, hormonal, or metabolic in nature.
KEY TAKEAWAY  More than half of men aged 40 to 70 experience erectile dysfunction, and in most
cases it points to a specific, treatable underlying cause, not just age.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada3 lvlongevitylab.com
THE EVIDENCE: WOMEN
Female Sexual Dysfunction Is Equally Common
Sexual dysfunction is not confined to men. The PRESIDE study (Prevalence of Female Sexual Problems
Associated with Distress), a survey of more than 31,000 U.S. women, found that 44.2% reported at least
one sexual problem. The most common was low sexual desire, reported by 38.7% of women, followed by
low arousal (26.1%) and difficulty with orgasm (20.5%).
Prevalence of sexual problems among U.S. women. Source: PRESIDE study (Shifren et al., Obstet Gynecol 2008).
Not every sexual problem causes personal distress, but a substantial share do: 22.8% of women in
PRESIDE reported sexually related distress. Notably, this distress is highest in midlife, between the ages
of 45 and 65, a period marked by significant hormonal transition. As in men, female sexual dysfunction is
strongly linked to measurable factors, including hormonal changes, vascular health, medications, and
psychological conditions.
For women, sexual dysfunction peaks in distress during midlife, when hormonal change is
greatest, underscoring the value of proper hormonal evaluation and care.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada4 lvlongevitylab.com
THE MOST IMPORTANT REASON TO SEEK CARE
The Cardiovascular Connection
Perhaps the most important reason to take sexual dysfunction seriously is its powerful, well-documented
link to cardiovascular disease. Erectile dysfunction, in particular, is now recognized by researchers as an
independent risk factor for, and early warning sign of, cardiovascular disease. The two conditions are, in
the words of one major review, different presentations of the same underlying disorder.
Why the Link Exists: The Small-Vessel Principle
The connection is rooted in physiology. Both an erection and healthy cardiovascular function depend on
the endothelium, the delicate inner lining of blood vessels, and on the ability of arteries to dilate and
deliver blood. Atherosclerosis, the arterial disease behind most heart attacks and strokes, impairs this
process throughout the body. Because the arteries supplying the penis are considerably smaller than the
coronary arteries, the same degree of endothelial dysfunction reduces blood flow there first. In effect, ED
can act as the body's early-warning system for arterial disease elsewhere.
Men with ED carry significantly elevated cardiovascular risk. Pooled relative risks from an umbrella review of meta-analyses (Mostafaei et
al., BJU Int 2021) and systematic review (Zhao et al., J Sex Med 2019).
The data are striking. A comprehensive umbrella review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses found
that, compared with men without ED, men with ED have a 43% to 45% higher risk of overall
cardiovascular disease, a roughly 50% to 59% higher risk of coronary heart disease, a 55% higher risk of
myocardial infarction, a 34% to 36% higher risk of stroke, and a 25% higher risk of death from any cause.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada5 lvlongevitylab.com
A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY
Sexual Dysfunction Comes First, and That Is a Gift
What makes this connection so clinically valuable is timing. Erectile dysfunction does not appear at the
same time as heart disease. It typically appears years earlier. Research shows that ED precedes the
clinical symptoms of coronary artery disease by approximately 2 to 3 years, and precedes major
cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke by 3 to 5 years.
The temporal sequence: ED commonly appears years before cardiovascular symptoms and events. Source: Vlachopoulos et al.; Montorsi
et al.; Mostafaei et al. (umbrella review, BJU Int 2021).
This is not a subtle effect. In one landmark study of 300 men with acute chest pain and angiographically
confirmed coronary artery disease, two-thirds reported that their erectile dysfunction had begun, on
average, 39 months, more than three years, before their first symptoms of angina. For a physician who is
paying attention, sexual dysfunction is therefore a rare and valuable thing: an early, visible signal that
offers a genuine window of opportunity to intervene before a cardiac event ever occurs.
KEY TAKEAWAY  Erectile dysfunction often appears 3 to 5 years before a cardiovascular event.
Treating it as a warning sign, not just a symptom, can be lifesaving.
The relationship extends to other vascular conditions as well. Analysis of national health survey data
(NHANES) found that men with ED had roughly twice the odds (odds ratio 2.05) of also having peripheral
arterial disease, further confirming that ED is a marker of systemic vascular health.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada6 lvlongevitylab.com
A SHARED ROOT SYSTEM
Shared Risk Factors: Metabolic and Hormonal
Sexual dysfunction, cardiovascular disease, and metabolic disease are so tightly linked because they
draw from the same pool of risk factors. The Massachusetts Male Aging Study and later research
identified a consistent set of shared contributors. In men with complete erectile dysfunction, hypertension
has been found roughly twice as often, diabetes three times as often, and cardiovascular disease four
times as often as in the general population.
Erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease share a common set of modifiable risk factors. Source: Massachusetts Male Aging Study
and subsequent reviews.
The Hormonal and Metabolic Dimension
Beyond the vascular system, sexual dysfunction is closely tied to hormonal and metabolic health. Low
testosterone in men and hormonal shifts in women affect not only libido and performance but also energy,
mood, body composition, and metabolism. Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of abdominal obesity, high
blood sugar, low HDL cholesterol, elevated triglycerides, and high blood pressure, is independently
associated with sexual dysfunction. Insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, both central to metabolic
disease, further impair the vascular and hormonal systems that healthy sexual function requires.
Sexual dysfunction rarely travels alone. It shares its roots with heart disease, diabetes, and
metabolic dysfunction, which is precisely why a thorough medical evaluation matters.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada7 lvlongevitylab.com
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BURDEN
The Psychological Implications
The consequences of sexual dysfunction extend well beyond the physical. Sexual health is deeply
connected to identity, self-esteem, and emotional well-being, and dysfunction can trigger a significant
psychological burden. Research consistently documents a strong, bidirectional relationship between
sexual dysfunction and mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.
People with sexual dysfunction carry a 13% to 21% greater risk of
depression than those without, according to pooled clinical data.
The relationship runs in both directions: depression and anxiety
reduce sexual desire and satisfaction, while persistent sexual
problems generate feelings of inadequacy, frustration, and relational
conflict that deepen psychological distress.
This creates a self-reinforcing cycle. Without intervention, sexual
dysfunction and poor mental health can worsen one another over
time. Breaking that cycle often requires addressing the underlying
physical drivers, not just the emotional symptoms.
Source: sexual dysfunction and depression risk, StatPearls (FSIAD); bidirectional relationship documented across multiple systematic
reviews.
The Medication Paradox
The psychological dimension carries a clinically important complication. Many antidepressant
medications, particularly SSRIs and SNRIs, themselves cause sexual dysfunction. As many as 70% of
patients taking these medications experience treatment-induced sexual side effects. This can trap
patients in a difficult loop, where the treatment for depression worsens a problem that itself contributes to
depression, making expert, individualized medical management especially important.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada8 lvlongevitylab.com
THE RELATIONSHIP IMPACT
The Impact on Relationships and Intimacy
Sexual dysfunction is rarely experienced by one person alone. Because intimacy is shared, its decline
affects both partners and the relationship itself. Research on sexual dysfunction consistently links it to
reduced relationship satisfaction, diminished intimacy, communication breakdown, and emotional
distance between partners.
For many couples, the hardest part is the silence. Embarrassment and shame often prevent partners from
discussing the problem openly, which can lead to misinterpretation, one partner may wrongly conclude
the change reflects lost attraction or interest, when the true cause is medical. This misunderstanding can
erode closeness far more than the physical issue itself.
Sexual dysfunction affects two people, not one. Addressing it openly, and medically, protects
not just individual health but the intimacy and connection a relationship depends on.
Why Addressing It Together Helps
Framing sexual dysfunction as the medical, treatable condition it is removes blame and replaces it with
shared purpose. When couples understand that these changes stem from measurable biology, and
pursue evaluation together, the result is often not only improved physical function but renewed
communication, confidence, and closeness. This is the philosophy behind the couples-focused longevity
care Dr. Brucker provides, as featured in recent coverage of LV Longevity Lab.
Featured: How Dr. Wallace Brucker helps couples optimize health and vitality together ›
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada9 lvlongevitylab.com
THE LV LONGEVITY LAB APPROACH
Diagnosis First: Data, Not Guesswork
Given how many systems sexual dysfunction touches, hormonal, vascular, metabolic, neurological, and
psychological, effective treatment is impossible without accurate diagnosis. This is the foundation of Dr.
Brucker's approach. Rather than prescribing a quick fix that masks symptoms, he begins every case by
measuring what is actually happening in the body.
At LV Longevity Lab, sexual health evaluation combines detailed blood analysis with the advanced
DUTCH urine test, which reveals not only hormone levels but how the body produces and metabolizes
them. Because sexual dysfunction and cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory disease share the
same roots, this testing frequently surfaces early red flags in those systems as well, delivering value far
beyond sexual health alone.
What Comprehensive Evaluation Assesses
■ Hormonal status: testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, thyroid, and adrenal function, via blood and
DUTCH testing.
■ Cardiovascular and vascular markers, given the strong link between sexual and heart health.
■ Metabolic markers, including blood sugar and insulin, to detect the metabolic dysfunction that drives
sexual decline.
■ Inflammatory markers that impair both vascular and hormonal function.
■ A full history, including medications that may contribute to sexual dysfunction.
KEY TAKEAWAY  Because sexual dysfunction shares its roots with heart and metabolic disease, a
thorough evaluation protects far more than intimacy. It can uncover hidden risk early.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada10 lvlongevitylab.com
PERSONALIZED, ROOT-CAUSE TREATMENT
Treatments for Men and Women
Once testing reveals the underlying drivers, Dr. Brucker builds a personalized, medically supervised plan.
Because sexual vitality depends on hormones, neurological signaling, vascular health, and pelvic floor
strength working together, treatment often combines several complementary therapies, all drawn from LV
Longevity Lab's sexual health services.
Carefully monitored testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone therapy to
Hormone Optimization restore libido, performance, mood, and energy, guided by comprehensive
testing.
A comfortable, chair-based electromagnetic treatment that strengthens the
EmSella Pelvic Floor
pelvic floor and improves blood flow, for both men and women, with no
Therapy
downtime.
Regenerative treatments using platelet-rich plasma (PRP) from the patient's
P-Shot and O-Shot
own blood to support tissue health, blood flow, and sensation.
Focused acoustic waves to promote new blood vessel growth and improve
Shockwave Therapy
circulation, a developing offering for performance and erectile dysfunction.
Crucially, because the evaluation addresses the whole body, treatment often improves far more than
sexual function. Optimizing hormones, vascular health, and metabolic markers supports cardiovascular
health, energy, mood, and long-term vitality, turning the treatment of a sensitive symptom into an
investment in overall longevity.
Explore sexual health treatments at LV Longevity Lab ›
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada11 lvlongevitylab.com
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Q  Is sexual dysfunction just a normal part of aging?
No. While risk rises with age, research shows age-related hormone decline alone accounts for fewer than 5%
of erectile dysfunction cases. In most people, the cause is a specific, identifiable, and often treatable vascular,
hormonal, or metabolic issue.
Q  Why is erectile dysfunction considered a warning sign?
Because the small arteries involved in erections show the effects of vascular disease before larger arteries do.
Studies show ED often precedes heart disease symptoms by 2 to 3 years and cardiac events by 3 to 5 years,
making it a valuable early signal.
Q  Does sexual dysfunction affect women's health too?
Yes. The PRESIDE study found 44% of U.S. women report a sexual problem. Female sexual dysfunction is
linked to hormonal changes, vascular and metabolic health, medications, and mental health, and warrants the
same thorough evaluation.
Q  Can treating sexual dysfunction improve my overall health?
Often, yes. Because the evaluation uncovers shared cardiovascular, hormonal, and metabolic issues,
addressing them can benefit heart health, energy, mood, and long-term vitality, well beyond sexual function.
Q  Is care confidential?
Yes. All care at LV Longevity Lab is delivered with complete discretion and respect in a professional medical
setting, for both men and women.
Read more frequently asked questions ›
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada12 lvlongevitylab.com
YOUR LAS VEGAS LONGEVITY PHYSICIAN
About Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD
Dr. Wallace Brucker is the medical director of LV Longevity Lab
and an orthopedic surgeon with over 20 years of practice and
more than three decades in medicine. A 1984 graduate of West
Point, he earned his medical degree from the University of
Texas Medical Branch and completed his orthopedic residency
at Dwight D. Eisenhower Army Medical Center.
A US Army reserve officer, he provided combat-situation
medical care and worked with elite soldiers of the US Army
Special Forces, Navy SEALs, Airborne, and Aviation units to
optimize their performance.
He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopedic Wallace Brucker, M.D.
Surgeons and completed his fellowship in functional medicine
through the American Academy of Anti-Aging Medicine. His
root-cause approach treats sexual dysfunction not as an
isolated complaint, but as a window into a patient's whole-body
health.
A Note From Dr. Brucker
“When a patient comes to me about a change in their sexual health, I never see it as an isolated
complaint. I see it as a message from the body. Sexual function is one of the most sensitive
barometers of overall health we have, and treating it properly can be a window into protecting a
person's heart, hormones, and long-term vitality.”
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada13 lvlongevitylab.com
EVIDENCE BASE
References
Feldman HA, et al. Impotence and its medical and psychosocial correlates: results of the Massachusetts Male Aging Study. J Urol;
and Prev Med. 2000;30:328–338.
Shifren JL, et al. Sexual problems and distress in United States women: prevalence and correlates (PRESIDE). Obstet Gynecol.
2008.
Mostafaei H, et al. Association of erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular disease: an umbrella review of systematic reviews and
meta-analyses. BJU Int. 2021.
Zhao B, et al. Erectile Dysfunction Predicts Cardiovascular Events as an Independent Risk Factor: A Systematic Review and
Meta-Analysis. J Sex Med. 2019;16:1005–1017.
Vlachopoulos C, et al. Prediction of Cardiovascular Events and All-Cause Mortality With Erectile Dysfunction. Circ Cardiovasc
Qual Outcomes. 2013.
Montorsi F, et al. Erectile dysfunction prevalence, time of onset and association with risk factors in men with coronary artery
disease.
NHANES 2001–2004 analysis: association of erectile dysfunction and peripheral arterial disease.
StatPearls: Female Sexual Interest and Arousal Disorder; sexual dysfunction and depression risk.
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine: Sexual dysfunction in women; SSRI/SNRI-induced sexual dysfunction.
This report is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Individual results vary. All treatments are provided under medical
supervision. Statistics are drawn from the peer-reviewed sources listed above. Always consult a qualified physician about your specific
health needs.
Dr. Wallace Brucker, MD  |  LV Longevity Lab  |  Las Vegas, Nevada14 lvlongevitylab.com
LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR BODY IS TELLING YOU
Get Answers, and Protect Your Long-Term Health
Sexual dysfunction is common, treatable, and often an early signal of something that deserves
attention. Schedule a confidential consultation and comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Wallace
Brucker to uncover the root cause, restore function and confidence, and safeguard your
cardiovascular, hormonal, and metabolic health for the years ahead.
Book an Appointment Contact the Clinic
Contact Information
Margaret Brucker, PA-C
LV Longevity Lab
4315 Dean Martin Dr, Unit 230E
Las Vegas, NV 89103
(702) 478-3369
[email protected]
lvlongevitylab.com