[The treatment of erectile dysfunction: what are the objectives and the methods?]

Despite considerable progress, the treatment of erectile insufficiency is often difficult due to its usually multifactorial aetiology and to the fact that the 3 components of a satisfying sex life are: 1) Sufficient penile rigidity with no other associated sexual dysfunction, 2) an adapted mental state, 3) a loving relationship with the partner. All of these parameters must be taken into account to ensure a lasting success, hence the need for a global approach rather than an approach localized to the organ. Consequently, there is not one, but several treatments which must be adapted to each case. The rarity of easily curable aetiologies explains the very widespread use of symptomatic treatments and the primordial place of clinical assessment. A consensus has currently been reached concerning: a) give the patient objective information, an essential prerequisite for the choice and success of treatment, b) start by proposing minimally invasive medical treatments, c) emphasize the value of a multidisciplinary approach in the case of failure, d) recognize the fact that achievement of a rigid penis is not necessarily synonymous with cure. In practice, two situations can be distinguished: 1) in the presence of predominantly psychogenic disorders, sex therapy and/or sexual advice can be used in all patients, either alone or in combination with drug treatments and/or a vacuum device (especially in the case of failure of either of these treatments), 2) in the presence of predominantly organic abnormalities which are not easily curable drug treatments and/or vacuum must be proposed first, but sexological management is always useful in these so-called "organic" patients. Prosthetic surgery, the only approach with demonstrated efficacy, is only indicated following failure of medical treatment, after rigorous selection. The release onto the market, in the near future, of promising new oral or intraurethral drugs used "on request" will certainly modify the treatment hierarchy. Due to their acceptability and efficacy, they will certainly be prescribed as first-line treatment, regardless of the origin of the erectile insufficiency. However, the therapeutic approach in the case of failure will remain unchanged. Erectile insufficiency can effectively be treated provided a rigorous assessment is performed.