CHECK Berlin / Brandenburg #5

SEX COUNSELLING
ENGLISH
ERECTION
PROBLEMS
AND THE PSYCHE
Foto: Gerd Altmann_pixabay.com
Interview: Torsten Schwick
Most men* have seen their penis refuse to work. And it doesn‘t have to be for medical
reasons. When one is exposed to severe stress or one begins a new love relationship,
such ”malfunctions“ are not that rare. Dr. Dirk Stemper knows both: medicine and
psyche. For over 20 years he worked as a doctor of internal medicine and in management
positions in various health organizations. As a psychotherapist and coach he
currently runs a private practice for psychotherapeutic medicine.
Hello Dr. Stemper. It is said that psychological
factors are responsible for around 10–20% of
all erectile dysfunction (ED) cases. Can you
confirm that?
Sexual dysfunctions are very different in their
symptoms, their severity and their causes. They
can occur due to psychological or physical
causes at practically any age. Erection problems
are just one form. In general practitioners‘
practice, 25-30% of patients have sexual dysfunction
that lasts for over a month. This can be
caused by emotional and physical experiences
in childhood and adolescence, sex education,
cultural norms and sexual morals, and also
unfortunately sexual trauma.
Around 70% of men with erectile dysfunction
have physical causes, mostly illnesses,
especially in the age group over 50. Otherwise,
62 CHECK BERLIN/BRANDENBURG #5