Through the door at last

You’re through the door into the physician’s consulting room, your head full of questions about Viagra, Cialis and Levitra, whether you can get Viagra without a prescription, and so on.


You sit, you pass the test of courage and, for the first time, tell a health professional that you have erectile dysfunction (ED) - perhaps not using those words, but your physician gets the message and makes the predictable reassuring noises. There is a momentary pause and you manage to get your first question out about buying Viagra online.


A hand is gently raised. Yes, everything will probably be all right. Yes, he will almost certainly be writing out a prescription for Viagra, Cialis or Levitra. But first, there are one or two questions.


This is not the happiest moment in your life. What is he going to ask? Well, at least one good thing has happened already. Your physician is obviously used to dealing with ED cases. If there was any lack of confidence, he would have referred you on to a specialist. He’s checking your medical records. His mouth is opening. You are determined not to be shocked. You stay calm. The first question comes:


I see you’re in a permanent relationship. Has this problem come suddenly or have you slowly been finding it difficult to get an erection?


How many times have you failed to get an erection?


Is this a complete failure? Not even the slightest swelling? Or do you get some erection for a short while that then goes away?


While you have an erection, is it hard enough for penetration?


If you can manage to get penetration, does it go away almost immediately?


Can you get it back?


Is there anything your partner can do or you can think about that will bring back the erection?


Do you have any lovers? How many partners do you have at present?


Are you bisexual? How many male partners do you have?


Does this problem with getting or keeping an erection only happen with one of them, or with some of them, or with all of them?


Do you wake up some mornings to find an erection?


Can you get an erection to masturbate?


Do you smoke? If so how many cigarettes a day?


Do you drink a lot? If so what do you drink and how much?


In addition to the medications in your file, are you doing any drugs whether recreational or medicinal? What about health foods, diet supplements, that kind of thing?


It doesn’t stop there of course. He will go on to ask many other questions about your general health and lifestyle. We’re just giving you a list of the highlights so you can ready yourself. Yes, this is going to be intrusive and highly personal. But there is a very good medical reason behind every one of these questions. You should answer truthfully. Do not be shy or embarrassed. This is a private and confidential service. If you want access to the many possible treatments including a prescription for Viagra, Cialis or Levitra, you must trust your physician to do his job and make a proper diagnosis. This is not a time for half-truths and evasions. You must probably be more honest with your physician than you are with your current partner(s). And, no, we have not forgotten. We can safely leave your question about how to buy Viagra until our next session together.