Prof. Dr.Mohamed Hamdy Abouel-Hassan

Definition
Review of literature
For years, the terms impotence and erectile dysfunction had been used
interchangeably to denote the inability of a man to achieve or maintain
erection sufficient to permit satisfactory sexual intercourse [ K
(1989)]
rane
et al.
Social scientists objected to the impotence label, because of its pejorative
implications and lack of precision [Rosen and Leiblum (1992)
The NTH Consensus Development [N
Conference
Conference (1993)] advocated that erectile dysfunction be used in place of
the term impotence and defined it as:
IH
Consensus
The inability of the male to achieve an erect penis as part of the overall
multifaceted process of male sexual function. This definition de-emphasizes
intercourse as the sine qua non of sexual life and gives equal importance to
other aspects of male sexual behavior
The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual- IV (DSM-IV). The American
Psychiatric Associations Nomenclature Manual (1994) offers the following
diagnostic criterion set for Male Erectile Disorder:
A. Persistent or recurrent inability to attain, or to maintain,
until completion of the sexual activity, an adequate erection.
B. The disturbance causes marked distress or interpersonal
difficulty.
C. The erectile dysfunction is not better accounted for by another
Axis I disorder (other than a Sexual Dysfunction) and is not due
exclusively to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g.,
a drug of abuse, a medication) or a general medical condition.