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Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction
Other Diagnostic Studies
Most cases of erectile dysfunction (ED) can be diagnosed and managed by your primary care physician. Complex cases, however, will usually be referred to a urologist for further evaluation and testing which may include:
Nocturnal penile tumescence and rigidity (NPTR) testing - This test involves placing sensors at the base and tip of the penis that can measure both the circumference and rigidity of the penis during sleep. Normally, men develop erections during a particular stage of sleep and these erections can be detected by the NPTR test. The absence of erections during sleep suggests an underlying organic cause for ED. In men with ED who develop normal erections during sleep, the most likely cause of the ED is an underlying psychological disturbance (psychogenic ED).
Ultrasonography - also called a "sonogram" or "ultrasound", this test is used to determine if the patient may have impaired blood flow to the genital area.
Cavernosometry - this test is used to measure the vascular pressure in the corpus cavernosum of the penis.
Cavernosography - a test which involves injecting a dye into the penis and then taking an X-ray to visualize if there is decreased blood flow to the corpus cavernosum.
