Erectile Dysfunction Testing: What to Expect During an Exam

"Erectile dysfunction" is one phrase no man wants to hear, but it’s something which unfortunately does happen to a lot of men. As a matter of fact, the National Institute for Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases estimates about 30,000,000 men in America are affected by erectile dysfunction, making it a significant sexual health issue. Consulting a urologist about erectile dysfunction is highly recommended so a strategy can be developed to help address this issue. But when a guy does to a urologist, what kind of tests is he likely to encounter as his issue is examined?

Some of these tests may seem a little off-track for a penis health issue, but the erectile process does require other parts of the body (the heart, glands, blood vessels, etc.) to operate correctly in order to be successful.

Medical history

Practically every doctor needs a medical history from his patient - and he needs it updated even if he already has the basics on file. He’ll go over things like past injuries, medications, etc. But he’s also going to want to delve a little into a guy’s sexual history, so be prepared to answer honestly. Likely areas he will explore include sex drive, relationship issues, how often erections occur, how firm the erections are, etc.

Physical

Some form of physical examination will also be needed. This may be a complete physical examination (if one hasn’t been conducted in some time), or it may be more focused on areas that might directly be related to penis health. This may include checking for penis sensitivity, checking blood pressure and circulation, and looking for signs of possible hormonal imbalance, such as enlarged breasts or hair loss.

Mental health exam

Some form of exam geared to assess basic mental health issues will also likely be included, as erectile problems sometimes have a psychological or emotional basis. In some cases, the doctor may feel it would also be valuable to ask your partners questions about your relationship.

Urine and blood tests

These tests are important for seeing if the patient has issues like diabetes, kidney or heart disease, atherosclerosis, or hormone issues, which can contribute to erectile dysfunction. Samples will be taken, but results may not be available for a few days.

Nighttime erection test

Although they are often unaware of it, men typically experience between 3 and 5 erections while they sleep. If they experience fewer, or none, then it indicates the erectile dysfunction is at least partially physical in nature (as opposed to being caused by emotional of psychological factors). For this test, a man places a plastic ring around his penis before he goes to bed. This will measure the number of erections he has; in some more sophisticated tests, it will also give information on how firm the erections are, how long they last, etc.

Intracavernosal injection test

For this test, the base of the penis is given an injection of a medication that brings forth an erection. If one is absent, or if it is a "weak" erection, it often indicates that blood is not flowing properly into the penis.

Ultrasound scan

Some urologists may also recommend an ultrasound scan of the penis. This is usually done in conjunction with the injection. Using sound waves, the doctor is able to get a picture of the inside of the penis, which is helpful in determining if there are any blockages to address.

Once the urologist has conducted the proper tests, he can devise a strategy for treatment.

Treating erectile dysfunction takes time, but things may move more easily if penis health is well maintained. Proper health is helped by regular use of a superior penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) . The best crèmes contain a range of vitamins, including A, B5, C, D and E. One with alpha lipoic acid, a powerful antioxidant, is well-positioned to fight off excess free radicals and the damage they cause as well.