Treatment with alendronate plus calcium, alendronate alone, or calcium alone for postmenopausal low bone mineral density.

Objective: Bisphosphonates such as alendronate are widely used for postmenopausal osteoporosis. Supplemental calcium is also generally recommended. This trial directly compares alendronate to supplemental calcium and examines the effect of calcium supplementation on alendronate treatment.

Female sexuality.

Female sexuality is an extraordinarily complex process. The physician needs to be aware of the patient's sexuality and whether or not there are sexual concerns. Physiologic changes over the lifespan can interact with sexual performance as can a variety of disease processes.

Erectile dysfunction: etiology and treatment in young and old patients.

This study shows that endocrine and vascular etiologies of erectile dysfunction are more common in the older age group, whereas depression and marital discord are more common in the younger age group. There is considerable overlap between various factors pointing to the multifactorial nature of erectile dysfunction. Review of the treatment option chosen reveals that the invasive modalities were least common as compared with the popular vacuum tumescence device (although cumbersome) and testosterone replacement.

Sexual function and the older woman.

The most important aspect to consider in optimizing the sexual health of the older woman is to ask about it, and determine what might be contributing to any difficulties that are faced. It also behooves all health providers to remind older women (and older men) that age is not a barrier to sexually transmitted diseases. Recognition that healthy sexuality is an important issue for achieving quality of life is an area that patients and their providers need to be cognizant of, but one where far more research and evaluation need to occur.