Erectile Dysfunction (Impotence) Diagnosis

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In making a diagnosis of erectile dysfunction (ED), your doctor will start by taking a detailed medical and psychosexual history and conducting a thorough physical examination. If possible, interviewing your partner also is very helpful in obtaining an accurate history, planning treatment and a successful outcome.

In addition, ED is often associated with various medical conditions, such as diabetes mellitus, coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, spinal cord compression and pituitary tumors. Therefore, your doctor may conduct a variety of laboratory tests to determine the cause of your ED. These tests may include the following:

* Complete blood count
* Urine test
* Fasting blood glucose test
* Serum creatinine test
* Lipid profile
* Morning serum testosterone test
* Prolactin level test

Based on the results of these tests, your doctor will discuss with you—and if you would like, your partner—your goals, preferences and further diagnostic and therapeutic options.

In some cases, your doctor may recommend that you have further testing for other medical conditions that may cause ED. In addition, if you are taking a drug—both prescribed or recreational—that is known to cause ED, or have vascular risk factors, a change in medication or lifestyle may be recommended.

Self-Report Tests for Measuring Sexual Function

A variety of self-report measures for assessing the levels of your sexual function are now available. These measures can be conducted on your own at home or in a private room at your doctor’s office. The most commonly used test is the International Index of Erectile Function. It has 15 items and assesses erectile function, orgasmic function, sexual desire, intercourse satisfaction and overall satisfaction, as well as the severity of your ED.

Advanced Testing for Erectile Dysfunction

Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) Test

Nocturnal erections occur in healthy males of all ages. Eighty percent of these happen during REM sleep. The average man has three to five episodes of NPT per night, lasing for 30 to 60 minutes each. With age, total nocturnal erection time decreases.

There are a variety of methods available for monitoring NPT. The monitoring is generally conducted with a simple outpatient device, rather than in NPT sleep labs. These devices electronically record the number, duration, rigidity and circumference of penile erections.

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Psychological Evaluation

Psychological conditions, such as performance anxiety, a strained relationship, lack of sexual arousability and mental health disorders, including depression and schizophrenia, may cause erectile dysfunction. Therefore, your doctor may recommend an interview with a psychologist that focuses on current sexual problems, partner relationship and any psychiatric symptoms you may be experiencing.

Neurologic Tests

The goal of neuro-urologic testing is to uncover neurologic disease, such as diabetes mellitus or pelvic injury, or diagnose reversible neurologic conditions, such as nerve damage caused by long-distance bicycling. These tests also help determine whether a referral to a neurologist is necessary. The most commonly used tests include:

• Combined Intracavernous Injection and Stimulation (CIS) Test—This is the simplest, and most commonly used test for evaluating and diagnosing ED. It uses penile injections, visual or manual sexual stimulation and a subsequent erection.
  
• Color Doppler Ultrasound—This test uses harmless, non-invasive sound waves to produce a picture of the penile arteries, which enables experts to evaluate the arteries’ functions.
  
• Pharmacologic Cavernosometry and Cavernosography—These tests evaluate penile veins and help identify any venous leakages.

RELATED STORIES:
Pharmacological Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction   Guidelines for Treatment of Erectile Dysfunction   Male Erectile Disorder   Male Erectile Disorder Prevalence   Male Erectile Disorder - Therapeutic Outcome   Male Erectile Disorder - Mechanism of Erection   Male Erectile Disorder - Who Should Counsel?   Male Erectile Disorder - Conclusions   Causes of Erectile Dysfunction   Male Erectile Disorder Evaluation   Male Erectile Disorder Definition   Erectile Dysfunction Treatment

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