Erectile dysfunction can affect all age groups. Numerous physical and emotional risk factors may contribute to the problem. These risk factors can range from chronic diseases and medications to psychological factors. In the U.S. alone, it has been estimated that 18 to 30 million men suffer from erectile dysfunction. This number has increased significantly as awareness of the disorder has heightened. Researchers and health care professionals now have a better understanding of what causes erectile dysfunction and the effective medications and non-medication treatments used to treat the condition. Comprehensive and state-of-the-art, Contemporary Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction: A Clinical Guide synthesizes the literature and covers all aspects of treating erectile dysfunction and other related male sexual dysfunctions. This invaluable title offers all physicians, residents, and fellows -- and even medical students and other health professionals such as nurse practitioners and physician assistants – an essential reference for enhancing diagnosis and treatment of this debilitating disorder.

This book is the result of an informal association between the editors which extends back to 1974. At the beginning, it was a tenuous alliance between physicians in quite different medical subspecialties-urology and psychiatry. As the alliance was forged, subspecialty rivalries and mistrust were replaced by a common clinical interest in the diagnosis and treatment of erectile problems. We quickly became aware of the high prevalence of such disorders, how poorly prepared we were to make accurate and re sponsible diagnosis and treatment plans, and how complicated an etiol ogical diagnosis could prove to be. A variety of biological and psychological influences bear on sexual function, and in many clinical contexts, diagnosis and treatment planning involves consideration of complex interactive var iables. The need for an expanded multidisciplinary team became obvious. The requisite knowledge base extended across too many subspecialty boundaries, and the necessary information was not available in a conve nient source. As we began accumulating the information base, we became aware that this information might be of value to other physicians. The authors enjoy the luxury of an academic setting in which special expertise can be readily assembled. Such resources are often unavailable to the physician in practice. Thus, it is our hope that this text can serve as a multi specialty team for the physician in solo practice. R. TAYLOR SEGRAVES New Orleans, Louisiana HARRY W.