- Part 1 Principles of international endocrine practice
- Part 2 Pituitary and hypothalamic diseases
- Part 3 The thyroid
- Part 4 Parathyroid, calcium, and bone metabolism
- Part 5 The adrenal gland and endocrine hypertension
- Part 6 Neuroendocrine tumours and genetic disorders
- Part 7 Growth and development during childhood
- Part 8 Female endocrinology and pregnancy
- Part 9 Male hypogonadism and infertility
- 9.1 Definitions and classification of disorders
- 9.2 Normal male endocrinology
- 9.3 Evaluation of the male patient with suspected hypogonadism and/or infertility
- 9.4 Male endocrinological disorders and male factor infertility
- 9.4.1 Congenital anorchia, acquired anorchia, testicular maldescent, and varicocele
- 9.4.2 Disturbed spermatogenesis
- 9.4.3 Klinefelter’s syndrome
- 9.4.4 XX male
- 9.4.5 XYY male
- 9.4.6 Structural chromosome abnormalities
- 9.4.7 Sequelae of extratesticular disease
- 9.4.8 Testicular tumours
- 9.4.9 Infections/inflammation of the genital tract
- 9.4.10 Obstructions
- 9.4.11 Immunological infertility
- 9.4.12 Idiopathic infertility
- 9.4.13 Treatment of hypogonadism and infertility
- 9.4.14 Insemination, <i>in vitro</i> fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection
- 9.4.15 Cryopreservation of sperm
- 9.4.16 Sexuality and erectile dysfunction
- 9.4.17 Gynaecomastia
- 9.4.18 Transsexualism
- 9.5 Exogenous factors and male reproductive health
- Part 10 Endocrinology of ageing and systemic disease
- Part 11 Endocrinology of cancer
- Part 12 Obesity, lipids, and metabolic disorders
- Part 13 Diabetes mellitus
Sexuality and erectile dysfunction
- Chapter:
- Sexuality and erectile dysfunction
- Author(s):
Cesare Carani
, Vincenzo Rochira
, and Antonio R. M. Granata
- DOI:
- 10.1093/med/9780199235292.003.9122
Sexuality is a complex concept encompassing far more than the simple sexual act. Sexuality in fact includes the physiological, behavioural and relational aspects of human sexual life, which are variously influenced by psychological factors (e.g. sexual fantasies, desire, arousal, psychosexual orientation, and the choice of the sexual object), as well as social and organic (vascular, nervous, and endocrine) factors.
From a functional point of view, a normal penile erection may be defined as an erection which permits the penetration of a lubricated vagina without additional assistance. Concerning the erectile mechanism, the haemodynamic changes in the penis require a high degree of central and peripheral nervous coordinated control and an unaffected endocrine system.
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- Part 1 Principles of international endocrine practice
- Part 2 Pituitary and hypothalamic diseases
- Part 3 The thyroid
- Part 4 Parathyroid, calcium, and bone metabolism
- Part 5 The adrenal gland and endocrine hypertension
- Part 6 Neuroendocrine tumours and genetic disorders
- Part 7 Growth and development during childhood
- Part 8 Female endocrinology and pregnancy
- Part 9 Male hypogonadism and infertility
- 9.1 Definitions and classification of disorders
- 9.2 Normal male endocrinology
- 9.3 Evaluation of the male patient with suspected hypogonadism and/or infertility
- 9.4 Male endocrinological disorders and male factor infertility
- 9.4.1 Congenital anorchia, acquired anorchia, testicular maldescent, and varicocele
- 9.4.2 Disturbed spermatogenesis
- 9.4.3 Klinefelter’s syndrome
- 9.4.4 XX male
- 9.4.5 XYY male
- 9.4.6 Structural chromosome abnormalities
- 9.4.7 Sequelae of extratesticular disease
- 9.4.8 Testicular tumours
- 9.4.9 Infections/inflammation of the genital tract
- 9.4.10 Obstructions
- 9.4.11 Immunological infertility
- 9.4.12 Idiopathic infertility
- 9.4.13 Treatment of hypogonadism and infertility
- 9.4.14 Insemination, <i>in vitro</i> fertilization, and intracytoplasmic sperm injection
- 9.4.15 Cryopreservation of sperm
- 9.4.16 Sexuality and erectile dysfunction
- 9.4.17 Gynaecomastia
- 9.4.18 Transsexualism
- 9.5 Exogenous factors and male reproductive health
- Part 10 Endocrinology of ageing and systemic disease
- Part 11 Endocrinology of cancer
- Part 12 Obesity, lipids, and metabolic disorders
- Part 13 Diabetes mellitus