Diagnosis & Tests For Erectile Dysfunction (ED
Men who suspect they may have erectile dysfunction (ED) need to know three things from their health care provider: confirmation of the diagnosis, the likely cause of their condition, and what they can do about it.
A number of tests are available to help evaluate and pinpoint the causes of ED. Following is an overview of some of the more common diagnostic tests that a doctor may run in an effort to identify if a man has erectile dysfunction and what may have triggered it. Knowing that will help doctor and patient determine the most appropriate treatment.
Lab Tests for Erectile Dysfunction:
* Urinalysis. This test can reveal abnormalities in testosterone, sugar and protein levels in the urine. These abnormalities may signal low testosterone, diabetes or kidney disease, which are all known to cause or aggravate erectile dysfunction.
* Blood Glucose Test. Similar to urinalysis, a blood glucose test can detect diabetes, a common cause of ED.
* Complete Blood Count (CBC). Among other things, this test measures the hemoglobin level in the blood. A low hemoglobin count often means that a person has anemia. Anemia causes fatigue and fatigue can cause erectile dysfunction.
* Lipid Profile. A lipid profile provides a measurement of the various types of cholesterol present in the blood. An elevated LDL cholesterol measurement may be associated with hardening of the arteries (atherosclerosis). This condition can hamper blood circulation in the penis, which can cause or contribute to ED.
* Kidney/Liver Blood Tests. These tests provide a detailed reading of kidney and liver functions. Abnormalities with either can be a cause of erectile dysfunction.
* Thyroid Function Test. A deficiency of sex hormones can cause or contribute to ED. This test evaluates the functioning of thyroid hormones, responsible for regulating the production of sex hormones.
Other Tests for Erectile Dysfunction:
* Psychosocial Examination. This assessment is most useful in determining whether the cause of erectile dysfunction may stem from psychological rather than physical factors. It is not uncommon for the man's partner to participate in this evaluation, which often includes a discussion of sexual attitudes and expectations.
* Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT). Normally, a man experiences five or six erections while he sleeps. This test monitors nocturnal erections and is useful in determining whether the cause of erectile dysfunction is physical or psychological. If a man has strong erections while sleeping but not while awake and engaged in sexual activity, then the cause of ED is more likely to be psychological. If nocturnal erections do not occur while asleep, the problem may be due to an inadequate blood supply to the penis or nerve damage. Special bands wrapped around the penis can gauge erectile dysfunction by measuring rigidity of the erection and penile circumference.
* Duplex Ultrasound. This test uses ultrasound to determine whether erectile dysfunction may be caused by atherosclerosis, scarring of erectile tissue, or a leaky vein. Typically, an injection of prostaglandin will be given to cause an erection, after which the ultrasound will record penile blood flow and blood pressure. These recordings are compared to measurements taken when the penis is soft.
* Penile Biothesiometry. This test can detect nerve damage in the penis, which can be a cause of erectile dysfunction. It involves using electromagnetic vibration to measure penile sensitivity and nerve function.
* Dynamic Infusion Cavernosometry. When ED is caused by a venous leak, this test helps determine the severity of the leak. Fluid is pumped into the penis and measurements are taken to evaluate how quickly the fluid must be pumped in to produce an erection.
* Bulbocavernosus Reflex. In cases where nerve damage is suspected to be the cause of erectile dysfunction, this simple procedure is used to assess nerve sensation in the penis. The doctor squeezes the head of the penis, which will normally cause the anus to contract. This contraction may be delayed or absent if nerve function is not normal.
* Vasoactive Injection. In this test, solutions are injected into the penis, which causes it to become erect for approximately 15-20 minutes. During that time, x-rays of blood vessels are taken and penile pressure is measured to evaluate whether inadequate blood flow may be the cause of the erectile dysfunction.
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