ABSTRACT
The penis is a barometer for men's health, responding poorly to a variety of insults, whether physiological, psychological, social or iatrogenic. Sexual dysfunction comes at significant psychological and physical health cost. The frequency and enjoyment of sexual intercourse is strongly associated with longevity with the findings of the Caerphilly study showing a 50% mortality risk reduction in those men with high orgasmic frequency. The importance of taking a sexual history is partly in the prevalence of sexual dysfunction which is rated as high as 31% of men and 43% in women. Sexual symptoms are often indicators of underlying endocrinological, neurological, psychological and cardiovascular disease and can be related to side effects of medication or following surgical treatment. Organic issues may be more likely if the issue is: present in older patients, gradually appeared, tends to occur in all situations; is persistent/progressive; accompanied by risk factors for the organic concern; if accompanied by partnership or anxiety, they are often secondary reaction.
