Masturbation in the in Vw0 Treatment of Impotence

Although masturbation has been successfully used to treat sexual dysfunction in women (Kohlenberg, 1974; LoPiccolo and Lobitz, 1972; Reisinger, 1974). there have been few reports on employing this technique to treat similar problems in men. Masturbation does seem to be effective in changing fantasies and sexual object choice in males (Davison, 1968; Freeman and Meyer, 1975; Marquis, 1970) and has been used to eliminate avoidance behaviors and anxieties associated with certain social fears (Clopton and Risbrough, 1973). The use of sexual arousal in the treatment of sexual disorders in males is certainly not new. Wolpe (1958; 1973) suggested and found the “deliberate use of anxietyinhibiting effects of erotic arousal” an effective procedure in treating erectile difficulties in males. Bass (1974) found erotic fantasies interposed with anxiety eliciting scenes effective in treating a case involving secondary impotence. According to Wolpe’s formulation, the stronger the competing response, the more rapid the desensitization. Theoretically, if a male is very highly aroused or near orgasm when facing a fearful situation, the anxiety will have less impact and be more rapidly eliminated. The present case study illustrates the use of a sexual arousal method, masturbation, in the treatment of primary impotence.