Erectile dysfunction rates and requests for treatment in patients attending outpatient urology clinics and those accompanying them.

Background: Erectile dysfunction is a common sexual function disorder in men. The aim of the present study was to determine the rates of erectile dysfunction and requests for treatment in male patients refered to our outpatient urology clinics and those accompanying them who were older than 20 years.

Methods: The study comprised 2 groups: group 1 included male patients older than 20 years whom attend to the outpatient urology clinics, and group 2 included their companies whom were older than 20 years. Subjects were asked whether they had erectile dysfunction or not, if so whether they had been treated or not, if not then why, and whether they desired treatment or not at present.

Results: Erectile dysfunction was determined in 224 subjects (13.9%) in group 1, and 57 (8.5%) in group 2. It was found that approximately one half (49.1%) of patients with erectile dysfunction did not complain about this. The main reasons for this were failure to perceive sexual dysfunction as a problem, and shame. Of 281 men who determined to have erectile dysfunction, 71 indicated that they desired treatment. In those who did not desire treatment, the main reasons were failure to perceive it as a problem, and shame.

Conclusions: These findings show that the doctor has a great responsibility in determining erectile dysfunction. Therefore discussions of sexual health should be made a routine part of doctor-patient discussions, and patients, especially those over 50, should be asked whether they have a complaint of erectile dysfunction.