We physically probe, poke and prod into any orifice, nook or cranny, and we can, should and regularly do inquire about subjects that would never be acceptable for idle cocktail conversation. But this area of inquiry is avoided in the routine medical practice. For starters, we're afraid of embarrassing the patient and we re afraid of being embarrassed ourselves. We're also concerned that we might not get a truthful answer from the patient, or that we will get the truth, but it will open a can of worms and we won't be able to handle the follow-up. I'd like to suggest five lines of questioning and discussion strategies that can be used to elicit the information we need to help our male patients with established ED, to prevent potential ED by recommending lifestyle changes, to inform and advise men about sexual functioning.
Patients often ask what is new in medicine.
This allows for proper functioning of the prostate. Many middle-aged men are treated for coronary artery disease, hypertension and diabetes, and compliance with medications, smoking cessation and increasing exercise are common topics in the consultation room. As with the previous strategy, this may be all the prompting your patient needs. If not, this is the time to ask directly about sexual functioning and erections. The primary complaint to family doctors is fatigue.