SUMMARY :
There are different simple or
complicated diagnostic procedures for male sexual dysfunction. The semi- invasive
and invasive ways include intracavernous injections of vasoactive drugs. We assessed
the efficacy of sildenafil as a first- step non- invasive diagnostic and therapeutic
tool for sexual dysfunction (SD) in an unselected male population. Sildenafil
in titrating doses up to 100 mg was given to 61 consecutive men presenting to
a sexual dysfunction clinic with medically documented ED and no contraindication.
They had not undergone any specific diagnostic test before starting sildenafil.
Of the 61 men, 33 (54.1 %) responded to sildenafil.
Twelve of the responders,
representing 19.7 % of all studied men, proved to have pure psychogenic dysfunction
and were discharged achieving spontaneous erections in a mean follow- up of 8.2
months. Men with no medical history, with multiple sclerosis, with hypertension
and with mild coronary artery disease responded better. The response to sildenafil
rate revealed that 54.1 % of men with sexual dysfunction do not need invasive
diagnostic tests ; this fact reduces the overall cost of the diagnostic investigation.
Sildenafil might be prescribed safely and effectively by non- urologists or in
the primary care sector in cases with no significant medical history or in men
with hypertension or mild coronary artery disease or multiple sclerosis.
Key
words :
o Sexual
dysfunction
o Male impotence
o Sildenafil