Impotence. Assessment in the private-practice office

Impotence can have a psychogenic or organic basis, or a combination of both. Many times the partial erection or inability to maintain the erection is at least somewhat the result of the aging process. Once the cause has been established, through careful history taking and appropriate testing, the physician, along with the patient and his partner, can choose the most desirable treatment method. With patience and realistic expectations, the patient can usually achieve a satisfactory resolution of the problem.