title: Subclinical erectile dysfunction: proposal for a novel taxonomic category in sexual medicine.
abstract: The definition of erectile dysfunction currently used and accepted worldwide does not encompass all possible changes to male erection. Partial, temporary, or episodic absence of erection is not considered as true erectile dysfunction. This leads to a lack of diagnosis and therapy and perhaps even the risk of the subsequent development of overt impotence. The lack of an evidence-based diagnosis of such a condition may be due to the widespread, pernicious self-prescription of erection drugs, obtained from the illegal market. To define the pathological condition of men experiencing a lack of erection who are unaffected by erectile dysfunction, we propose herein a new taxonomic category, based on new sexological criteria. In addition, we suggest research into biochemical markers to define this condition, which we have named subclinical erectile dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Medicine, University of L'Aquila, L'Aquila, Italy. Electronic address: eaj@iol.it.
authors.forename: Emmanuele A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Jannini
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Pathophysiology, University of Rome "La Sapienza", Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lenzi
authors.affiliation: University of Rome-Medical Pathophysiology, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Isidori
authors.affiliation: II University of Rome Tor Vergata-Medicine, Rome Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
mesh_terms: D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000145:classification* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010410:Penile Erection; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011788:Quality of Life; D012074:Remission Induction; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous; D020018:Sexual Dysfunctions, Psychological / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents