Most women have sat in a doctor's office and decided, at the last moment, not to bring something up. That hesitation is understandable. But it comes at a cost — and it does not have to keep happening.

When a partner is dealing with erectile dysfunction, most women's first instinct is to wonder if it's somehow about them. It isn't — but it does affect them. Here is what is actually happening medically, and how to navigate it as a team.

You already know this is common. What you may not know is why it is happening to you specifically, whether it qualifies as a medical issue, and what can actually be done. It does qualify. And there is quite a bit that can be done.