"I've been left feeling completely hopeless and depressed by the whole ordeal "

Hi there,

For the past 4 years I have suffered from erectile dysfunction - I didn't seek help until about 2 years ago as I thought it was just a phase that would pass. My GP was very understanding and sympathetic and after several necessary tests promptly referred me to the urology department at the Western General. However due to a very long waiting list It took about 6/7 months for me to be seen.

I was due to see a specialist surgeon. However on arrival I was told he was busy and was seen by another surgeon. The surgeon I met was very rude and seemed to just want to get the appointment over and done with as quickly as possible. He performed a couple of simple tests, inspecting my penis and then doing a quick sensitivity test (as I also have sensitivity problems on the left side of my penis). After these simple tests and a quick chat he said he couldn't find anything wrong with me, and that it was probably psychological. I asked if there was any more tests that could be done and he told me that I should see a psychologist first before anymore physical tests. Then that was it.

After waiting that long I was seen and dismissed in a very business like and impersonal way. I felt completely devastated that the surgeon dismissed all my concerns as psychological as quickly as he did. I didn't feel as if enough had been done to see if there could be any physical issues going on.

After a few more months I was seen by a psychosexual therapist. He was great, lovely guy and very understanding. But after one session with him he agreed that all possible tests should have been carried out to determine if there were any physical problems before I was referred to a psychosexual therapist.

I then went to see a GP again. He checked over the notes from my appointment with the urological surgeon I had seen previously and discovered that the surgeon had documented that I rejected a nocturnal penile tumescence test (night erections) which simply wasn't true. My GP then sent a letter directly to the specialist surgeon requesting that I be seen again. Months later I still haven't been seen and my problems haven't improved at all.

So it's been 4 years I've had this problem and 2 years since I reached out for help and I can't say my condition has improved or progressed in any way at all. I've been left feeling completely hopeless and depressed by the whole ordeal and shocked that someone as young as me (I'm 24) with this condition has not be seen as dealt with swifter and more compassionately.

Any help, advice or suggestions here would be most welcome. Thank you.