Reading this guide is not meant to substitute for a visit to your physician. However, awareness of the treatability of impotence has recently grown and, with the recent U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of the first oral treatment for impotence, men are becoming increasingly aware that they no longer have to live with impotence. Impotence is treatable in all age groups but, unfortunately, only about 10% of men seek treatment. Although impotence is not an inevitable or irreversible consequence of aging, about one third of men who suffer from some degree of impotence are over age 60. Some recent estimates place the number of American men and their partners affected by impotence as high as 30 million. Estimates from a National Institutes of Health (NIH) panel indicate that the number of men in the United States with erectile dysfunction ranges from 10 million to 20 million. Because of differences in the way it is defined and the general reluctance to discuss it, the actual prevalence of impotence is difficult to determine. Above all else, you need to know two very important things.

By choosing to read this work, you've taken the first step toward debunking these popular myths. You may believe many of the myths about impotence: it's an inevitable part of aging; it's a sign that you've lost your manhood; it's all in your head; you should keep it to yourself; and, worst of all, you can do nothing about it. If you are experiencing frequent episodes of impotence, you probably feel very much alone. Also, sadly, many physicians neglect to ask their patients about sexual matters when taking a medical history or performing a routine physical examination. Unfortunately, because most men see the ability to perform sexually as a measure of their masculinity - the term impotence, by definition, implies a 'lack of power' - they are usually embarrassed and reluctant to discuss their impotence with anyone, including their physician.