More doctors should ask their male patients if they are suffering from erectile dysfunction, according to a new study from McGill University researchers.

Erectile dysfunction is well known to be an early warning sign of serious medical conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, prostate problems and depression. However, men with milder cases of ED often do not report the symptoms to their doctor, dismissing them as insignificant.

This may cause doctors to miss this important warning. After studying 176 men with mild ED and comparing their health records to those of 67 men with more severe forms of the condition, researchers found that mild sufferers are just as likely to experience these other health complications as men with significant ED.

The findings indicate that even occasional sexual performance problems may be a symptom of more serious health concerns.

“Mild ED is an important indicator of risk for underlying disease associated with ED,” the authors wrote in their report. “Inquiry into ED should be part of routine clinical evaluation to facilitate rapid identification and early intervention. Men complaining of mild ED should be evaluated adequately for underlying cardiovascular risk.”