Damon: Come in
Bruce Stein, MD: Good Evening
Damon: Hey Doctor Stein
Bruce Stein, MD: So what brings you here today?
Narrator: Many men with Erectile Dysfunction would rather do just about anything than talk to their doctor about this condition
Bungee jumping: screaming
Bruce Stein, MD: I agree with you that men are very embarrassed about this…
Narrator: Dr. Bruce Stein is an Atlanta Urologist who specializes in men's sexual health…
Bruce Stein, MD: I get frank with them. I say, are you not as hard as you used to be? It doesn't last as long? Does it go down before you're able to ejaculate? …about awakening with an erection…
I mean these hit home with men and they're easy…once you do it in privacy…and I think they feel more comfort. And they realize that you're there for them.
Are you awakening with an erection in the morning?
…And if they do have a good erection during their deepest sleep, and we are able to give you objective evidence of that, or if a man just tells you he wakes up with a good erection
But he can't perform, then that is a good sign that there is a psychogenic cause…
Narrator: Meaning that the problem isn't likely down there but more likely in his head. Reasons for male sexual impotency can vary widely:
Aside from psychological reasons, common causes can be due to hormonal imbalances, nerve damage or vascular problems…all the more reason to talk with a qualified healthcare provider,
ED can be the first sign of a more serious health problem… but not a sign that you're getting too old for sex:
Bruce Stein, MD: Incidents of impotency or male sexual dysfunction definitely increases as you get older but not because you get older…
And when you go to initiate and have sex, is it hard enough to put in?
Narrator: Would you say, more often than not, this is usually a reversible condition for most people?
Bruce Stein, MD: I think if it's caught early enough, ahhhh, yes it is.
Narrator: But getting proper treatment and a good outcome requires preparing for a frank discussion with your doctor.
In fact, the vast majority of men who seek treatment for ED end up having successful outcomes.
Many by lifestyle adjustments such as exercising more, losing weight or quitting smoking, treating underlying medical conditions, and using non-invasive treatments such as prescription medication.
Bungee jumping: screaming
Narrator: A slightly less dramatic first step than many men might have imagined. For WebMD, I'm Damon Meharg.