What is the difference between erectile dysfunction, symptoms and impotence?
When it comes to men’s ailments, I often hear all kinds of terms: impotence, erection problems, dysfunctions, etc. What is the difference between all these complaints?
JK
Henriëtte Schoones, sexologist and relationship expert:
Impotence, erectile dysfunction, erectile dysfunction or erectile dysfunction are terms that are sometimes used interchangeably.
Impotence literally means the impotence or inability to come to intercourse. Today, however, sexologists don’t use this term anymore, because it’s a bit man-unfriendly. He affects the man image too much.
A man has an erection problem if he does not experience what he would like to experience with regard to his erection. Or when he can’t do what he would like to be able to do in bed. Whether it really is a problem depends on whether that person experiences it as a problem himself.
Erectile dysfunction is the repeated inability to obtain or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual activity. (The official definition of the World Health Organization (WHO))
Erectile dysfunction or sexual dysfunction is therefore generally associated with a lack or reduced sexual response. There is then no physical reaction.
Erection loss can be called a disorder, but does not necessarily have to be experienced as a problem by a man. The term sexual dysfunction originates from the medical world. Again, not every man will experience this as disturbing.
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