Studies have shown that treatment for erectile dysfunction (ED) is more effective when the patient has a supportive partner.
How can a partner be supportive? Here are some ideas:
- Attend doctor’s appointments with the patient. A partner can provide additional insights and may think of questions that the patient overlooks.
- Help the patient decide on a treatment plan.
- Communicate. Help the man feel comfortable discussing ED, from the physical aspects to the emotional matters.
- Be encouraging and upbeat.
- Understand that overcoming ED takes time. Some men need to try different treatments before they find what works best for them. Patience and a willingness to try other ways of being intimate – aside from intercourse – can take pressure off the man and make him feel like he is still desired.
Working together as a team, both partners can cope more easily with ED treatment and, in turn, strengthen their relationship along with their sex lives.