Erectile dysfunction: The impact on the female partner and on the couple: The role of the urologist [Disturbi dell'erezione: Impatto sulla donna e sulla coppia: Il ruolo dell'urologo]

Erectile dysfunction, far from being only a male pathology, is a problem that influences negatively the sexual life of the female partner and, as a consequence, the couple life. Medical counselling is therefore of upmost importance and consists of a complete history taking and subsequent accurate planning of the investigations that are required followed by a therapeutic approach tailored to the gravity of the erectile dysfunction. A clear and earnest communication with both female and male partners is paramount, as well as refraining from doing common mistakes as excluding the female partner form the diagnostic and therapeutic array, underestimating the psychological components of erectile dysfunction, or confusing this disease with a loss of libido. \ua9 Copyright 2006, CIC Edizioni Internazionali