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Jason, a 60-year-old, first noticed a problem with erections when he was in his teens. When he was with a woman, he could not maintain an erection, although he felt very aroused. And even when he masturbated, his erection would disappear before he could ejaculate.
Jason went to numerous doctors, seeking help. Although his testosterone level was normal, Jason was given shots of the hormone—but there was no improvement in his erections. Jason got married after a doctor said it would solve his problem, but that didn’t help either. Only very rarely could he maintain an erection for enough time to allow him to have intercourse. His wife was frustrated, depressed and hurt by the situation, and so was Jason.
The couple went to more doctors, seeking help. One psychiatrist tried to persuade Jason that he could live without sex, saying that companionship was all that really mattered. But the suggestion didn’t go over very well with Jason and his wife. They wanted to enjoy sex.
Other doctors, unable to identify a physical cause for Jason’s problem, told him he had a psychological problem. “Everyone told me it was psychosomatic,” says this soft-spoken, well-dressed man, who looks younger than he is. But although no one could find a physical cause, Jason was reluctant to believe that his problem was indeed “all in my mind.” Over many years, Jason paid a high price for his leaky veins—and the lack of medical knowledge about erections that existed during most of his life. He felt his self-esteem and confidence slipping away, and believes this contributed to problems at work. He was often depressed and withdrew from social activities to spend more and more time alone. After several years, Jason and his wife stopped having any type of sexual relationship. They were too frustrated.
But recently, new tests found that leaky veins were the source of Jason’s impotence. He had surgery to correct his malfunctioning veins, and for the first time in many, many years, Jason reports that he wakes up in the morning with an erection. (More about the surgical treatments for vein problems is found in chapter 8.) After some adjustment to their new physical relationship, Jason and his wife are able to enjoy intercourse.
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