Dear Limping Along,
Erectile dysfunction, or ED, has many causes. If it is years of washing down deep fried prosciutto and hollandaise sandwiches with Wild Turkey and cigs, then yes, changing diet and quitting smoking will help. Meanwhile, wouldn't Serge Gainsbourg have given himself a self-inflicted vasectomy by the age of 27 if lifestyle was such a problem? Yet, at the age of 43 he was able to get up enough go and squeeze out enough juice to make Charlotte. (On a related note, I think you would adore Jeffrey Steingarten's work. He's the food critic at Vogue and has devoted his life to eating everything he can get his hands on and investigating what is known as the "French Paradox.")
Alexander Hall is a naturopathic doctor, and though he says more information is required to accurately assess and treat your condition, he comments: "I feel there is still a significant amount of hope for the gentleman. He is in his 40s, which really isn't that old. Look at Mick Jagger and his legendary less-than-puritan lifestyle in the early years of his career. He seems to be impregnating a new woman in her 20s every few years or so!" Never underestimate the power of rock 'n' roll. Have you considered a career in rock 'n' roll as an option? It should also be pointed out that Bob Dole is the only really visible public figure endorsing ED meds. I'm just saying.
The good news is that you still get morning erections. "This indicates that blood flow to his penis has not been severely compromised," continues Dr. Hall. "I do find it interesting that he is being treated with Viagra, as it is not a medicine for promoting ejaculation, but for improving blood flow to the penis in order to aid in achieving and maintaining erections. Lest we forget, it is quite possible for men to orgasm without ejaculation. Taoists and tantric sex practitioners have been recommending this practice for several centuries and this technique can be used to maintain an erection more or less indefinitely - at least until the job is done. Taoists actually believe that regular ‘internal ejaculations' to minimize the loss of semen ‘essence' ensure a longer and healthier life, in addition to other health benefits."
As I suspected, and as confirmed by the crack-ho to health-nut lifestyles of several friends, "The body is quite resilient, and when obstacles to cure such as a poor diet and unhealthy lifestyle practices are removed, it can't help but improve its functioning over time. Obviously the extent to which he has abused his body will determine the possibility and time it may take to repair itself." Dr. Hall recommends that you work with a naturopathic doctor or doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. My experience with naturopaths is that they seem to have more time to discuss related and all-over health issues than some of the medical doctors I've been to. Dr. Hall suspects, though, that the problem is likely more psychological than physical, "since his plumbing must still be working as is indicated by his regular morning erections." This too, is treatable.
Learning more about the penis in general is also a smart thing to do - seriously, how many of us are more on top of Britney Spears' pregnancy than our own genitals? Check out the book A Mind of Its Own: A Cultural History of the Penis by David M. Friedman.
