Product Description

After the hype, a thoughtful, responsible approach to improving sexual function. The viagra revolution is here, and while the drug truly can help many of the millions of Americans who seek it, it can create as many problems as it can cure. Here is the first book to help readers-men and women together-understand some of the common root causes of sexual dysfunction and determine whether the quick fix of Viagra will help them, or possibly make their situation worse. Dr. Melchiode, who participated in some of the early clinical trials of Viagra, gives the reader a tour of the sexual psyche, pointing out the obstacles and pitfalls posed by treatment, whether with drugs or through other means. Most important, he makes the critical point that men must involve their partners in the treatment, and offers sage advice on how to do so in a positive and loving manner. He also discusses such thorny issues as the role of the physician, the relationship with one's insurer or HMO, and the potential impact of Viagra-both good and bad-on male-female relations, and society in general.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1135609 in Books
• Published on: 1999-03-02
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 254 pages

From Library Journal
The National Institutes of Health estimates that 20 million men suffer from sexual dysfunction. As more Americans seek prescriptions for Viagra from their physicians, it is important to realize that potential solutions to this problem go beyond pills. A therapist specializing in human sexuality for 30-plus years, Melchiode (psychiatry, Univ. of Texas Southwestern Medical Sch.) participated in early trials of Viagra. He does an excellent job of addressing sexual problems within the context of relationships, as well as the issues involved in determining whether Viagra is the therapy of choice. Further, he deals with other important topics, such as sexuality and aging, the stance of managed-care providers with respect to Viagra, women's attitudes toward the drug, and Viagra's impact on society as whole. An appropriate choice for consumer health collections and public libraries.ALinda M.G. Katz, Allegheny Univ. of the Health Sciences Lib., Philadelphia
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews
A blast of good sense from a knowledgeable source, this puts Viagra in a proper perspective as a treatment for impotence. Psychiatrist Melchiode has been a therapist in human sexuality for more than 30 years, and he knows a real step forward when he sees one: when used as part of a well-thought-out therapeutic plan, Viagra can be key in relieving what he rightly terms the ``soul-wrenching condition'' of impotence, and in repairing ``all-important human relationships that support our whole social structure.'' For sufferers, Melchiode explains what Viagra is and how it works, and discusses the diagnosis and evaluation of sexual dysfunction in men (the first step is always a thorough medical exam and consultation with a urologist). He then goes into depth on the various causes of impotence, complete with realistic and instructive case historiesalways with an eye as to whether Viagra would be an appropriate treatment. Melchiode makes his case neatly: the physical, emotional, and social are all inevitably intertwined, and in the hands of an experienced practitioner, Viagra is a crucial part of treatment. But no drug will ever ``serve as an antidote for deceit, divorce, and empty or disrupted lives.'' -- Copyright ©1999, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

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Customer Reviews

DIfficult subject written in plain language, with humor!
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