London: Cricket legend Ian Botham on Sunday revealed that he underwent impotence treatment and has encouraged other men suffering sexual problems to seek help.
The 60-year-old former English cricketer said he had four sessions of shockwave therapy to prevent erectile dysfunction in the future.
He said: "I'm a male and men do have problems and you have to front up to them. There's no downside to this - only a big upside.
"It's prevention rather than cure. I didn't need the treatment but I didn't want to be worrying about it in ten years' time."
Ian, married to his partner Kath for 40 years but has been linked to a string of beautiful women in the past, said he had received Vigore Linear Shockwave therapy, which involves stimulating the patient's groin with acoustic waves for around 20 minutes and claims to regenerate tissue and blood vessels, improving blood flow.
It is estimated that half of all men between the ages of 40 and 70 suffer from some degree of erectile dysfunction, which can be caused by psychological problems or physical issues such as heart problems and diabetes, 'The Telegraph' reported on Sunday.
Ian, who played his last Test in 1992, said he was speaking out about receiving the treatment in order to encourage men suffering from impotence to explore the options available to them.
He said: "I hope that this becomes a talking point and that people break to taboo. There's nothing to be embarrassed about.
"What's more embarrassing? This or popping some pills and saying to your partner 'I'll be with you in 20 minutes, I'm just waiting for this to work?'
"I would say to blokes, don't be shy. If you've got a problem, go and sort it out."
Ian said that he had timed his four treatments to coincide with England Test match games over the summer.
He added: "Kath has got a gold medal for 40 years of putting up with me. I hope this treatment will improve things in the bedroom department - that's the whole point of it. I'm trying to give myself a better life for longer."
