SEX COUNSELING AND PENILE PROSTHESIS

Surgical implantation of the penile prosthesis raises critical issues for the assessment and treatment of psychogenic and organically based erectile dysfunction. The importance of treating sexual problems within the overall context of an individual's personal and interpersonal experience is discussed and illustrated with case studies. A regimen of sex counseling is suggested 1) to aid in the differential diagnosis of a psychological from an organic basis for the dysfunction-thereby being likely to correct the problem in the former instance; 2) to provide an opportunity for the client and his partner to explore other satisfying forms of sexual expression and communication; and 3) to increase the probability of successful adaptation if a prosthesis is requested by the client. © 1978 Human Sciences Press.