Many men are too embarrassed to admit that they have the problem and feel they cannot talk to their partners or health man sex health
.

But experts say that if the problems are tackled, sometimes with drugs like Viagra or other treatments, 99% of problems can be alleviated.

Dr Mike Kirby, a GP who has a special interest in erectile dysfunction (ED) and the problems it causes, has turned to the world of the arts because of his concerns that men need more help.

With the help of West End playwright David Eldridge, whose works include “Festen” and “Serving it Up”, Dr Kirby wrote a play examining the delicate issues amaranth book health man z
impotence, with the aim of promoting a better understanding of the condition.

He went on to perform it in front of an audience of GPs at University College, London.

Erectile dysfunction Erectile dysfunction affects at least one in every ten men. There are an estimated 2.3 million UK men with impotence, but only 10% of them ever get treatment. Impotence problems increase with age. Impotence was thought to be almost entirely psychological, but physical conditions account for about 75% of cases.

The play was a great success and there are hopes to use extracts filmed from it to help educate other professionals about how to handle the sensitive issues.

“I talked to the playwright about the issues and explained to him the problems and what issues needed to be brought out to make it easier for people to talk about their problems,” Dr Kirby said.

“People don’t like to talk about it. They are ashamed and they can’t talk to anybody. Men on average go between two and 10 years before they can tell anyone that they have a problem.”

Physical problem

Dr Kirby said that ED was often thought to be psychological, but that for many men it turned out to be linked to a physical condition such as early diabetes, high blood pressure or heart problems.

Impotent men can struggle with their emotions

He said that in his surgery in Letchworth, in Hertfordshire, if men presented with any of these problems staff had been trained to delicately ask them if they were also having problems with ED.

“Doctors asking as part of a check-up can lead to diagnosis being quicker than it otherwise would be.”

Dr Kirby said that a failure to talk about the problems would also put strains on man health book
s, causing a rift between partners at a time when support was most needed.

“Because the man does not want to initiate anything that could cause himself embarrassment, he often pushes his wife away and stays up late watching the television, rather than going to bed and talking about the problem.

“Then the wife starts to worry ‘am I not attractive any more?’ and the whole thing becomes very difficult. I wanted a way to get all these things across and the play seemed the best way to do this.”

He said the play had been aimed specifically at doctors because they are also often embarrassed about tackling sexual problems.

But he said that the sooner the problem is tackled the better it will be for the patient.

“There are some good treatments that can help,” Dr Kirby.

“About 10 years ago the treatments were a bit barbaric, such as putting needles into men’s penises, but now with Viagra we can help 99 out of 100 men.

“A lot of men just think it is part of getting older, and put up with it, but they can get help.”

Suffering in silence

Rachel Cummings, from the Chandler Chicco Agency which helped commission the play, said it had focused on the lives of one particular couple.

It showed through their relationship how difficult it could be for men to seek help and talk to their families and medics about the problem.

“We tried to portray a real-life couple. The man is suffering, but he can’t talk to his wife or his GP, so he just stays up late watching television,” she said.

“The relationship with his wife is damaged and he goes to the doctor, but he does not talk to him. He finds it too difficult.

“His wife asks him whether he still loves her and so he realises he must go to his GP. He finally talks to him and he gets treatment.

“It also helps by showing the GPs what is going on outside of their surgery and the impact something like this can have on a patient’s life.”

Ann Tailor, director of the Sexual Dysfunction Association, agreed that the play had been a great initiative.

“So many men with ED and their partners are experiencing the emotions portrayed in the play, such as embarrassment, disappointment and anxiety, but even worse there are still men with ED who are not going to their doctor for help and advice,” she said.

“This play raised awareness of ED and got doctors and patients talking about it with more ease.”