Getting Help for Erectile Dysfunction - Talking To Your Doctor
Remember, your doctor or healthcare provider is the single best source of information regarding you and your health. Please consult your doctor if you have any questions about your health, your symptoms, or your medication.
Seeking treatment for ED? Whether you have done so in the past or are looking for help for the first time-can feel awkward. But talking about it with your healthcare professional can only increase your chances for successful treatment. And since your healthcare professional is interested in your total well-being, it is important to disclose all of your medical history and health issues, including ED. Often there are underlying medical or health conditions related to ED, so a confidential discussion is critical.
What do I Say?
It can seem pretty weird to talk to someone about your sex life, but it doesn't have to be! First of all, your doctor or healthcare provider knows that sexual issues are a very important aspect of your health. Second, no matter how unusual the discussion may seem to you, remember, the odds are that your doctor has heard this from many, many men over his career. So what do you say?
The best approach is a simple, straightforward one: just tell your doctor that you have a sexual issue you wish to discuss. Let him know right up front how you are feeling. For example: "Doctor Jones, I want to discuss some concerns I have with my sex life, and I'm a little nervous."
Or
"Doctor Jones, I've been hearing a lot about Erectile Dysfunction. Can we talk about it?
Or
"This isn't easy for me, Dr. Jones, but I'm having problems with my erections, can we talk?"
Any way you want to start the discussion is OK, but generally, the more direct you are, the better off you will be. Remember that your doctor is busy, and you want to make sure you are heard!
OK, I've asked, now what can I expect?
You've done your part, you've addressed the issue with your doctor. What is important now is that you discuss with your doctor what your feelings are about what is going on, and what is important to you as you move forward. Your doctor will likely ask you a number of questions relating to your symptoms. Some of them might seem unusual or not related to your ED, but they are! Let's give you some examples of the kinds of questions your doctor might ask:
1. How long has this been going on?
- Your doctor needs to know if this is a new problem or one that has been ongoing for some time.
2. Do you have any of the following conditions? Diabetes? Heart disease? High Blood Pressure? High cholesterol?
- ED is strongly linked to a number of other common diseases of men. In fact, sometimes ED is the first symptom of some of these diseases!
3. What medications are you taking?
- There are a number of medications that men take that may cause ED or make mild ED more noticeable
4. Do you wake up with an erection?
- Again, this may seem like a silly question, but it's not. Men naturally have erections while they sleep and upon waking up in the morning. This is one way your doctor might assess how severe your problem is.
These are examples, but there may be many others. He may ask you about your relationship with your partner, about stress you are experiencing in your life, or about your lifestyle habits such as smoking, drinking, and drug use. Your answers will guide him as to what other questions to ask.
At all times you should feel comfortable with the conversation. If you are being asked questions and you find them disturbing, tell your doctor you feel uncomfortable, and ask him to explain the reasons for asking. You will learn more about your ED in the process.
It is very important when you talk to your doctor to let him know any views you have on certain kinds of therapy. For example, if you have tried certain therapies in the past, and found they didn't work for you, tell him! Likewise, if there are some therapies you are aware of that you don't want to try, you should feel free to mention that too. And of course, if you want to ask about newer options, that also is something your doctor needs to know.
OK, we've had the talk. Are we done?
Depends. If you feel you that your doctor has listened to your concerns, answered your questions, and you are satisfied with his suggestions, you're done. But what if you're not?
If you feel that your concerns were not heard, tell your doctor! If you have any questions, ask him for answers. If you are not satisfied with his suggestions for therapy, let him know, and try and explain why you aren't satisfied, or what your concerns are. Remember, your doctor is not a mind reader! He's a professional, with your health care interests at heart. By being clear about your feelings and concerns, you are helping him do his job, and he will be grateful for it!
