Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Impotence
Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Impotence
In the last few years, great advances have been made in our under- standing of the normal physiology of erection that have translated into new ideas about the pathophysiology of erectile dysfunction and, impor- tantly, new treatment options for patients with erectile dysfunction. The definition of erectile dysfunction is the consistent inability to attain and maintain a penile erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse as outlined by the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Panel on Impotence.’ Erectile dysfunction is a significant health problem affecting 30 million men in the United States.2 The inci- dence of impotence in men increases with age, with estimates as low as 5% at age 40 to 25% at age 65.2 Subpopulations of men are at greater risk, including those with diabetes mellitus and vascular disease. Although not life threatening, the impact of erectile dysfunction is signif- icant, and our recent ability to intervene with safe treatment options makes evaluation and treatment of the disorder imperativ