[Sex therapy is effective for erectile dysfunction].

Objective: To evaluate the sex therapy for erectile dysfunction (ED).

Methods: We recommended the sex therapy to ED patients and their partners (11 couples in all) in the outpatient department. Of the total number of volunteers, 2 males were accompanied by ejaculation disorder, another 2 with hyposexuality, and 1 female had vaginismus. The effect of the therapy was assessed and the problems with it analyzed by interviews with the subjects and the results of International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) before and after the treatment.

Results: Of the 11 pairs of volunteers, 5 quitted halfway and 1 discontinued at the therapists' decision. The 5 couples who accomplished the whole therapy felt more satisfied with their sexual life and general relationship, with improved scores on all the items of IIEF, particularly on erectile function (EF), with the only exception of sexual desire (SD).

Conclusion: The sex therapy is effective not only for ED but also for other accompanying sexual dysfunctions, the sexual dysfunctions of the patients' partners and the improvement of the general relationship of the couples.