Impotence can be a tough problem but not because effective treatment is unavailable. A host of treatments introduced in recent years mean that most men can get help for this ailment.
The problem is that impotence is such a source of shame that many of the 30 million American men suffering from it are unwilling to seek help.
To tell a doctor a secret that’s never been shared with anyone maybe not even his spouse is too much for some men.
The only advice I have for any man too proud to seek help for impotence is this get over it. After all, would you rather endure a few minutes of embarrassment in the doctor’s office or forgo sexual satisfaction for the rest of your life?
Getting help
Your first step should be to find a urologist who specializes in the treatment of impotence. University-affiliated specialists are more likely to be up-to-date on impotence treatments than those without such an affiliation.
Any man suffering from impotence should be accompanied to the initial appointment by his sex partner.
Doctors used to think that nine out of 10 cases of impotence stemmed from purely psychological factors.
Now it’s clear that while performance anxiety and other psychological problems often play a role, the vast majority of cases have physiological causes.
Examples: Injured blood vessels in the groin atherosclerosis of arteries in the penis.
For this reason, diagnosing impotence requires a physical exam by a doctor and a psychological evaluation.
If your doctor cannot refer you to a sex therapist, get a referral by sending a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope to the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors and Therapists, Box I960, Ashland, VA 23005, or use the on-line locator at www.aasect.org.
A small percentage of men overcome impotence with the help of sex therapy or following micro-vascular surgery to repair penile blood vessels damaged by groin injuries.
