You could never describe Jerry Hall as coy. The supermodel, whose high-profile lovers have included rock stars Bryan Ferry and Mick Jagger, and the late racing millionaire Robert Sangster, is famously relaxed about her sexuality.

Despite being a mother of four, and with her 50th birthday just around the corner, she still happily poses in provocative outfits, has been seen naked on the London stage, and talks openly about the qualities in men that turned her on in the bedroom.

It was Jerry, of course, who came up with the classic definition of a successful marriage that had the strait-laced feminists choking into their copies of The Guardian.

"Sex," she says, candidly, "is a very important part of my life. It always has been. Touching, being close to someone - the intimacy that sex brings.

It is quite comforting to know that this sex goddess has knowledge of the sexual problem that affects many women - the thorny issue of how to cope when their partner suffers from impotence or erectile dysfunction (ED).

They think that they are not good looking enough or desirable enough, or doing the right things in bed. Maybe he just doesn't love me any more, or is having an affair?

"That's so wrong. Erectile dysfunction is a medical condition, nothing more and nothing less. And like many medical conditions it can easily be put right with a simple visit to the doctor."

"You have to understand that for men, their ability to get an erection is completely tied in with their masculinity thing and it affects every fibre of their being", Jerry said.

Add to that the well-documented propensity for men to bury their heads in the sand when it comes to health issues and you have a recipe for disaster in the bedroom.

"Men are the worst," she agrees fondly. "Research has shown that in Northern Europe, they can go for up to seven years without sex, rather than admit they have a problem. How mad is that?"

"Likewise, we women have to be the ones who initiate that conversation with their man to get them to admit there is a problem with their ability to get, or sustain, an erection."

According to Jerry, an important part of dealing with the thorny subject is to convince your man that he is far from being alone with his impotence.

Jerry suddenly snorts with laughter. "When I heard that figure, I said to myself that the next time it happens to me, I certainly wouldn't take it personally!

"Seriously, though, men and women need to be grown up and realise that if they want to sort out their sexual problems they are going to have to talk to each other.

"Barriers between you can go up very, very quickly and that is damaging. Be honest. Tell him you think there is a problem, that it affects you, too. Then explain how easily it can be sorted out with just a quick visit to his doctor."

"And then are the latest generation of drugs like Levitra, which work within ten minutes - so you can keep the all important feeling of spontaneity.

"But if it carries on for a few weeks then you have to call in the experts. If my man wouldn't go to the doctors I wouldn't let him get away with it.

"People are entitled to a great sex life no matter what their age and with the medical help available today, there is no reason wy they shouldn't have it.

"Actually," she confides with a wicked grin. "I think older men make better lovers. They are more experienced, they know ow to please you and if they do have problems they can be easily fixed with a quick trip to the doctors.

After a turbulent few years, which saw the break up of her marriage to rock legend Mick Jagger, a year-long relationship with younger man Tim Attias, as well as flings with producer George Waud and explorer Benedict Allen, Jerry says she is happy to be simply dating.

In any case, Jerry says she has her hands full looking after her four children, 21-year-old Elizabeth, herself a top model, James, 19, Georgia May, 13, and Gabriel, eight, who all live with her in a Thames-side mansion.

"Well the two youngest are not really that interested," she says, artfully. "And when I told the older two they had the typical young persons' reaction of saying: 'Erectile dysfunction, what on earth is that?' But I guess they'll pick up what I am doing eventually.

"I am not a doctor, so I can't give medical advice," says Jerry. "But if people feel that having me talk openly and honestly about the subject helps them with their problems, then that is absolutely great.

"Erectile dysfunction is a real and common problem, with awful consequences both for the couple and their families. It is not something to laugh at, or to be ashamed of, but most of all, it won't go away by itself.

"If a man I was with told me he was taking medication for erectile dysfunction I wouldn't feel like either he, or I, was a failure. I'd simply say - that's OK by me.

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