Impotence
Erectile dysfunction (ED) can often be diagnosed by your GP. They will talk to you about your situation and may carry out a physical examination.
Your GP may ask you about:
If you do not want to talk to your GP about erectile dysfunction, you can visit a genitourinary medicine (GUM) clinic. You can find your nearest GUM clinic on the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV (BASHH) website.
You'll also be asked about your sexual history. Try not to be embarrassed because erectile dysfunction is a common problem. You can request a male GP at your surgery if you prefer.
You may be asked about:
Erectile dysfunction that happens all the time may suggest an underlying physical cause.
Erectile dysfunction that only occurs when you are attempting to have sex may suggest an underlying psychological (mental) cause.
Your GP may assess your cardiovascular health. Narrowed blood vessels are a common cause of erectile dysfunction and linked with Cardiovascular disease (conditions that affect the heart and blood flow).
Your GP may:
A physical examination of your penis may be carried out to rule out anatomical causes (conditions that affect the physical structure of your penis).
If you have symptoms of an enlarged prostate , such as weak or irregular urination, a digital rectal examination (DRE) may be suggested.
Blood tests can also check for underlying health conditions. For example, measuring the levels of hormones such as testosterone can rule out hormonal conditions, such as hypogonadism (an abnormally low level of testosterone).
In some cases you may be referred to a specialist for further testing. This might be the case if you are unusually young to be experiencing erectile dysfunction as it's rare in men under 40 years of age.
An intracavernous injection test involves injecting a man-made (synthetic) hormone into your penis to increase the blood flow. This helps assess any abnormalities in your penis and plan surgery.
If the injection doesn't result in an erection it may indicate a problem with the blood supply to your penis. In some cases, you may also need an ultrasound scan .
These specialised tests involve injecting dye into the blood vessels of your penis and studying the dye on a scanner. These are likely to be used if you are being considered for surgery or if a problem has been detected with your blood vessels.
If the cause of your erectile dysfunction is thought to be psychological, you may be reffered for a psychological assessment.
Erectile dysfunction (ED), sometimes known as impotence, is the inability to get and maintain an erection that is sufficient for satisfactory sexual intercourse.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) can be caused by many problems, such as other medical conditions and stress related (psychological) issues.
Erectile dysfunction (ED) can often be diagnosed by your GP after assessing your situation and doing a physical examination.
If you have erectile dysfunction (ED) the treatment that you will receive will depend on the underlying cause of the condition.