[Impotence: evaluation and treatment in general practice--what is reliable?].

Erectile dysfunction has an incidence of 2-9% and it is seen often in general practice. But the more recent treatment methods such as intracavernous drug injections and vacuum constriction devices are not known by general practitioners and normally used drug treatment has no efficacy. The management of impotence of the general practitioner should concentrate upon internistic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, hypercholesteremia and different drugs causing impotence. The symptomatic treatment of erectile dysfunction has to be done by a specialist, who is able to offer all therapeutic options.