ARE NEW TREATMENTS FOR ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION RESULTING IN 'GOOD SEX?'
- Not Necessarily, Says Dr. Ruth Westheimer -
DALLAS, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- For years, Dr. Ruth Westheimer has
advocated good sex. But she doesn't necessarily believe that the much
touted treatments for erectile dysfunction are helping couples achieve
that goal.
At a briefing hosted by the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey (UMDNJ) during today's American Urological Association (AUA)
meeting, the renowned sex therapist, author and educator urged men to
consider the needs of their partners when seeking treatment for
erectile dysfunction (ED).
"New medications for erectile dysfunction have contributed so much by
enabling men to improve or restore their sexual performance," says Dr.
Westheimer. "But truly having good sex means fixing more than the
mechanical problem. For both partners to enjoy good sex, they may have
to learn all over again how to be intimate with each other."
According to Dr. Westheimer, if a man is not sensitive to the physical
and emotional changes his partner may have gone through while the
couple was not having sex, intercourse alone will not restore loving
and intimate physical relations.
"Women, particularly those who have gone through menopause, may have
experienced a reduction in libido and vaginal lubrication, and the man
needs to be willing to reintroduce sex gently and gradually. Or,
during the time a man was unable to perform, a couple may have ceased
any activities that could even lead to sex, such as intimate
discussions, kissing and touching. In cases like these, foreplay often
needs to be re-learned," Dr. Westheimer said.
Noted psychologist and human sexuality expert Dr. Raymond Rosen,
professor of psychiatry at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of
New Jersey (UMDNJ)-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, agrees that the
successful treatment of erectile dysfunction has as much to do with the
partner as with the pharmacological treatment.
"With the availability of convenient oral medications for erectile
dysfunction, and even more treatments in the pipeline, couples who may
not have been intimate for years now have the opportunity to resume a
satisfying sex life. Our research shows that this is just as important
to women as it is to men. In fact, one company investigating an
erectile dysfunction treatment, TAP Holdings, is emphasizing partner
satisfaction as part of their clinical data," Dr. Rosen said.
Erectile dysfunction affects an estimated 30 million men mostly over
age 50 in the United States and the condition can result from medical
conditions, medications, psychological or emotional factors. In the
past several years, important advances have been made in the treatment
of erectile dysfunction, and men are seeking treatment in unprecedented
numbers. In fact, according to IMS Health, the number of men who saw
their doctor for ED treatment increased 75 percent from 1997 to 1998.
Recognizing that the need for education in this area is greater
now than ever before, Dr. Westheimer is participating in this campaign
to discuss the importance for newly potent men to consider the physical
and emotional needs of their partner. She offers these tips for men
who are seeking, or undergoing, treatment for erectile dysfunction:
-- Talk to your doctor about the most appropriate therapy for your
condition.
-- Talk to your partner to find out what she feels about the possibility
of resuming sexual relations.
-- Suggest that your partner come with you to the doctor so that she can
be informed of your diagnosis, prognosis and treatment options.
-- Help your partner become familiar with whatever treatment regimen
your
doctor prescribes (i.e., how to administer the treatment, potential
side effects).
-- If prescribed a medication, don't have sex the first time you use it;
just be intimate together in bed and engage in foreplay.
-- If you and your partner have not had sex for a long time, it
important
to remember that women take longer to become aroused than men; pave
the way by giving her flowers or sharing a candlelight dinner.
-- If your partner has gone through menopause, don't forget to take her
physical changes into account by spending more time during foreplay
or
using lubricant. -- Since older men may take longer to ejaculate,
keep lubricant handy to
avoid any unnecessary female discomfort. -- Try making love in the
morning -- when men produce the highest level
of testosterone -- in order to be both psychologically and physically
aroused.
The UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School is one of three
medical schools of the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New
Jersey (UMDNJ). UMDNJ comprises New Jersey's only medical schools, the
state's only dental school, a nursing school, a graduate school of
biomedical sciences, a school of health related professions and a
school of public health on campuses in Newark, Piscataway/New
Brunswick, Camden, Stratford and Scotch Plains. UMDNJ also operates
UMDNJ-University Hospital, Newark, and University Behavioral
HealthCare. It is affiliated with more than 200 health care and
educational institutions throughout the state.
SOURCE University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
-0- 05/03/99 /NOTE TO EDITORS: Dr. Rosen
will only be available for interviews during the American Urological
Association (AUA) meeting, from May 2 through May 5.
/Photos are available via the Associated Press Photo Network and on the
Internet (http://www.newscom.com). 213-237-5431./
/CONTACT: Kaylyn D. Dines of UMDNJ, 973-972-7276; or Lisa Meltzer of
BSMG Worldwide, 212-445-8137/
/Web site: bsmgworldwide.com
CO: University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey; American
Urological
Association ST: New Jersey IN: HEA MTC SU:
*** end of story ***
|
