For most of us, however, our sexual and quasi-sexual relationships provide most of the joys and satisfactions which sexuality can bring us. Thus if disabled people are to lead a full and satisfying life, opportunity for satisfaction and fulfilment in their sexual needs must form part of it. Hence it is envisaged that this lecture will shed light where there is darkness, hope where there is despair, as well as joy and happiness in hitherto cold and sterile relationships among the disabled. Surgical Appliances are available that can stimulate and maintain an otherwise inadequate erection or create an erection where none was possible before. For patients seeking surgical help by way of an operation to restore erections without the use of prostheses, venous leak impotence can be treated by ligation of the offending vessels, and arteriogenic impotence can likewise be managed by arterial revascularisation.
Psychosexual therapy is most effective when both partners participate.
The case in point would be impotence caused by performance anxiety. The prescription of psychotropic drugs or the occasional referral to the psychiatrist may be necessary for deep seated problems. Replacement therapy either orally or by injection can often restore potency. Low libido states are helped if supplemented by counselling. On the other hand, elevated levels of serum prolactin can cause impotence and is easily treated by bromocriptin without recourse to surgery.