How is Erectile Dysfunction diagnosed?

The doctor usually begins by asking questions about the man’s medical and sexual history. This information will help the doctor understand the nature of the problem, determine how serious it is, and identify the underlying cause. For example, the medical history may point to a disease such as diabetes as the cause, or questions about the man’s history can help distinguish ED from problems with desire, ejaculation, or orgasm.

The next step is a physical examination. If the penis is not sensitive to touch, there may be a problem with the nerves. Abnormal sex-related characteristics (such as unusual hair patterns) may point to a hormonal cause. Decreased pulses in the wrist or ankles may indicate a problem with blood flow.

There are laboratory tests that can help in the diagnosis as well. Some tests uncover underlying diseases that require treatment; others can measure hormone levels. There are tests that can detect nerve damage and measure blood flow to the penis. One technique that is some¬times used is monitoring a man while he sleeps. Healthy men have involuntary erections during sleep, so if a man does not have them, his ED may have a physical cause rather than a psychological one. However, these tests are not completely reliable, and doctors disagree about when they should be used.
Psychological examinations that use a questionnaire and an interview can reveal psychological factors. The man’s sexual partner may also be interviewed.

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