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Book Review |
Department of Urology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
| Grading Key
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Type of Book: Dr Shabsigh, a world-renowned expert in the field of male and female sexual dysfunction, has compiled a comprehensive book on erectile dysfunction (ED) intended for physicians and the lay public alike. It is a well-written, concise, and thoughtful book on the evaluation, management, treatment, epidemiology, physiology, and pathophysiology of ED.
Scope of Book: In 11 chapters the author addresses the various medical conditions that affect erections, such as prostate cancer and heart disease. The chapters are aligned in a thoughtful and constructive way. The book also contains a glossary, a list of resources, a reading list, and questionnaires that a patient can complete and bring to his physician. Brief notes throughout the book also discuss the topics of preventing ED.
Contents: The patient is challenged in the first chapter to
be introspective and to examine the reasons for not seeking help. A battery of
examples encompass the majority of the 
excuses
to not see a
physician. The second chapter, Getting to Know ED, appears to be
geared to the professional rather than the lay individual. It is comprehensive
and concise in its examination of the epidemiology of ED. The third and fourth
chapters are devoted to the physical and psychological causes of ED. The
office visit is detailed in great depth in the fifth chapter, and describes
what the patient should expect and what the physician should be expected to
discern during the office visit.
Prostate cancer and heart disease are discussed in the sixth and seventh chapters, respectively. The role of women in ED therapy is delineated in chapter eight. This is an important chapter for many physicians, who often focus on men without focusing on their partners.
The ninth chapter is extremely useful for the lay population because it discusses mechanisms for resuming sexual activity if a couple has not been engaged in sexual activity for a period of time. Chapter 10 reviews other possible causes of sexual dysfunction. It is a welcome addition to any textbook of sexual medicine and gives the reader great insight into this problem and many of the ancillary issues that need to be addressed while evaluating and treating ED.
Strengths: A major strength of the book is its inclusion of the role of the female partner, and this chapter is a vital part of the book. Inclusion of the partner increases the likelihood of success in the treatment of male ED. It allows the man's partner to understand the emotions that men with ED face: the normal aging male sexual pattern, help with communication and assistance with treatment, and restoration of function. Another strength of the book is the excellent discussion of Peyronie disease. This disease is often misunderstood, and the text addresses the topic in an understandable fashion. In addition, many excellent questions are posed that were derived from actual patient interviews. These are quite helpful in explaining the emotions and issues involved.
Deficiencies: Unfortunately, there are no tricks of the trade or tidbits for a primary care physician. Inasmuch as the primary care physician is often uncomfortable with this subject, this educational opportunity is overlooked, as are some topics, such as the needs of homosexual couples. In addition, no chapters are exclusively devoted to the topics of hypogonadism, depression, and psychogenic ED, although they are incorporated in various portions throughout the text. Although the section on questionnaires may not be well understood by the lay reader, it certainly would be useful for the practicing clinician.
Recommended Readership: The book offers a great wealth of information in a concise, well-written, clear format for clinicians who are not familiar with the topic as well as for patients who may want more information on the topic. This is a welcome addition to the urologic literature and should be included in the library of clinicians who are involved in the field of sexual medicine and all lay individuals who have an interest in this area.
Overall Grading: 
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