[Erectile dysfunction].
Diagnostics and therapy of erectile dysfunction are currently one of the main issues dealt with by urologists. The Androcheck--the recommended annual medical checkup for men above 50 years of age--has taken this fact into account. Nearly 10% of all men suffer from persistent erectile malfunction. In addition to age, typical risk factors are diabetes, hypertonia, chronic nicotine abuse, other chronic illnesses as well as operations in the pelvis. Modern diagnostics work in three steps and take into consideration from the beginning the therapeutical requests by both the patient and his partner. The more invasive the therapy, the more extensive as well as comprehensive the preliminary diagnostics must be. After the obligatory basic examination, a Sildenafiltest may already present a satisfactory solution for therapy. With the introduction of this first potent oral drug for the therapy of erectile dysfunction, the status of all other therapy options has changed as a consequence. The indication for semi-invasive therapies such as intraurethral applications of prostaglandin E 1 or invasive methods such as the auto-injection therapy have become far more rare. On the other hand, patients who have been dissatisfied with these methods or other oral drugs may sometimes be successfully treated with Sildenafil. The diversity of therapeutical options should, however, be used for combining methods in order to successfully treat all patients suffering from erectile dysfunction. It goes without saying that primary or concomitant psychotherapy or couple therapy should not be left out.