Mar 29, 2014 02:03 PM EDT By Jaleesa Baulkman, UniversityHerald Reporter

Men may be able to reverse their erectile dysfunction without medication, according to a recent study.

Researchers from the University of Adelaide in Australia found that men suffering from sexual dysfunction can be successful at reversing their problem by focusing on lifestyle factors and not just relying on medication, according to a press release.

"Sexual relations are not only an important part of people's wellbeing. From a clinical point of view, the inability of some men to perform sexually can also be linked to a range of other health problems, many of which can be debilitating or potentially fatal," Gary Wittert, head of the Discipline of Medicine at the University of Adelaide and Director of the University's Freemasons Foundation Centre for Men's Health, said in a statement.

For the study, researchers collected data and followed more than 800 men over a five-year period. About 31 percent of the study participants developed some form of erectile dysfunction.

"Our study saw a large proportion of men suffering from some form of erectile dysfunction, which is a concern," Wittert said in a statement.

They also found that a large proportion of men were naturally overcoming erectile dysfunction issues. The remission rate of those with erectile dysfunction was 29 percent.

"This shows that many of these factors affecting men are modifiable, offering them an opportunity to do something about their condition," Wittert said.

Researchers said the major risk factors for erectile dysfunctions are typically physical conditions rather than psychological ones, such as being overweight or obese, a higher level of alcohol intake, having sleeping difficulties or obstructive sleep apnea, and age.

Sean Martin, lead author of the study, said that even when medication is required to help the sexual dysfunction, it is likely to be considerably more effective if lifestyle factors are also addressed.

"Erectile dysfunction can be a very serious issue because it's a marker of underlying cardiovascular disease, and it often occurs before heart conditions become apparent," Martin said. "Therefore, men should consider improving their weight and overall nutrition, exercise more, drink less alcohol and have a better night's sleep, as well as address risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol."

The findings were recently published in the Journal of Sexual Medicine.

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