But whether the problem is physical, mental or both, it's usually treatable. The im-portant thing is for men not to feel shy about talking to their partners or getting professional help - after all, it's a common problem affecting more than a million men in Australia.
Although impotence is more likely over the age of 40, it's not a normal part of ageing. Often it's because of health problems more common in older people such as heart disease or diabetes, or as a result of surgery for prostate disease, for in-stance. Smoking can be another cause - smoking narrows blood vessels, making it harder for blood to reach different parts of the body, including the penis. Without enough blood flowing into the penis, it's difficult to get an erection.
Other things contributing to narrowed arteries include eating too much fatty food and having high blood pressure. For some men, simply switching to a healthier lifestyle - not smoking, eating less fat and having regular exercise - may be enough to make their arteries healthier. Besides improving their erection, this also reduces the risk of other health problems. Impotence is often one of the first signs of unhealthy arteries - and unhealthy arteries increase the risk of heart disease and stroke.
There are a number of treatments now available for impotence. But it's important to remember that there's no one treatment that works for everyone - each person needs a careful assessment to decide which treatment is the most suitable. Ac-cording to a special committee, which has investigated impotence treatment in NSW, there are concerns that some practitioners aren't giving patients a thorough assessment and aren't providing them with
information about all treatment options.
Some patients have reported to this committee which is chaired by the Health Care Complaints Commissioner, that they haven't been told of possible side ef-fects of some treatments and, in some cases, have been overcharged for medica-tion.
So what's the best way to find the right doctor? See your own GP first - he or she can then refer you to a specialist in this area.
But don't forget, says one impotence specialist, that an erection is only one part of sexuality. "Men sometimes forget the importance of good relationships - some-times we need our wives to remind us of the importance of cuddling and intimacy. After all, it's people who make good lovers - not drugs."
Please Scroll Down to See Forums Below 
