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Eroticization as a factor influencing erectile dysfunction treatment effectiveness

International Journal of Impotence Research volume 26, pages 1–6 (2014)Cite this article

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Abstract

We review both the medical and psychosocial literature on factors influencing male potency in order to better understand why erectile dysfunction (ED) treatments, PDE5 drugs in particular, are abandoned when otherwise effective. We incorporate anecdotal data from websites and list serves dedicated to helping patients deal with iatrogenic ED. Our goal is to distinguish between ED treatments that are medicalized versus eroticized, and how partner participation may influence their effectiveness. Recently it has been shown that ED treatment effectiveness is aided by the involvement of the patient’s partner. This permits an erotic association between the partner and the ED ‘aid’. We extend this idea to suggest that having the partner involved as early as possible in the discussion of treatment, and their presence at the time of prescription, should improve ED aid effectiveness. Eroticization of ED aids shifts the focus from a perceived disability of the patient toward the sexual pleasure provided by the partner. We further suggest that ED aids used without the partner’s knowledge will undermine intimacy and ultimately the treatment’s effectiveness. Unpartnered patients should be advised about the importance of informing potential partners about their use of such aids, as openness and honesty may increase intimacy in the long run.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Derek Wilke, John Oliffe, Philip Belitsky, Bernard Lee, Basavaraj Shettar, JoAnne Phillips, Stacy Elliott, Deborah McLeod, Shannon Griffin and Larry Goldenberg for their critical feedback and suggestions on draft manuscripts. Especially helpful were the insight of Richard Carpiano, Stanley Althof and Celestia Higano. Special thanks to Emily McLeod and Hannah Calich who helped format the article for publication. The only support for this research came from an operating grant to RJW from the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council of Canada.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Neuroscience, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada

    K C Kukula & R J Wassersug

  2. Department of Urologic Sciences, Vancouver Prostate Centre, University of British Columba/Vancouver General Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    R A Jackowich

  3. Department of Urologic Sciences, Leslie Diamond Care Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    R J Wassersug

  4. Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, VIC, Melbourne, Australia

    R J Wassersug

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  1. K C Kukula
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Correspondence to R J Wassersug.

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Kukula, K., Jackowich, R. & Wassersug, R. Eroticization as a factor influencing erectile dysfunction treatment effectiveness. Int J Impot Res 26, 1–6 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2013.29

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