Love and sex after 60: how to evaluate and treat the impotent older man. A roundtable discussion: Part 2

Abstract

In the medical evaluation of older men with erectile dysfunction, obtain a detailed history to determine whether the dysfunction is organic or psychogenic. Determine if there are underlying pathologic processes--most notably vascular diseases--or other factors responsible for the dysfunction, such as medications or nerve or arterial damage from surgery. Lifestyle changes in mid-life (regular exercise, a low-fat diet, and smoking cessation) increase a man's chances of remaining potent as he grows older. Treatments for impotence include injection therapy, vacuum devices, and implants. Each therapy has advantages and disadvantages, and the informed patient plays an important role in choosing the therapy that is right for him.