Erectile dysfunction, where a man is incapable of producing or maintaining an erection during sexual intercourse, is a fairly common condition, impacting approximately 30 million men in the US alone. ED can be caused by anything, from medical disorders to lifestyle choices or even psychosis, but it’s more likely to be curable through multiple treatments.
The primary diagnostic objective of ED involves physical examination and complete history. But some doctors may prescribe further testing to pinpoint the ED’s root cause. Such tests can give valuable clues about how the male reproductive tract works and can help formulate a treatment strategy. These are some of the commonest ED tests discussed in this article — NPT, venous leak, and so on.
Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) Test:
Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) is an unplanned erection that occurs while you sleep. It is an all-natural physiological response, occurring anywhere from three to five times a night in healthy men. In the NPT test, you have to use a handheld device known as a nocturnal penile tumescence monitor to determine how many and how long these erections are occurring. This test may determine whether ED is a physical or psychological issue.
When a man does not experience NPT, then the ED might be due to a physical underlying cause, including nerve degeneration or decreased blood supply to the penis. Conversely, with NPT, ED could result from psychological factors, including stress or anxiety. This test can also be used to monitor how ED therapies work over time.
Venous Leak Test:
A venous leak is when the blood flowing inside the penis when an erection occurs runs out making it difficult to maintain an erection. This can occur for a variety of reasons, including age, injury or other illnesses. A healthcare professional might run a penile doppler ultrasound scan to look for a venous leakage, capturing images of the blood vessels through sound waves that would indicate a leak.
Other tests may include a dynamic infusion cavernosometry and cavernosography (DICC) test. This exam consists of taking an erection-inducing drug and then X-raying the area to determine whether blood has been leaking from the penis. A venous leak test can determine the location of the leak and direct medical, surgical or vacuum treatment options.
Hormone Tests:
In some cases, ED could result from a hormone imbalance, like testosterone. Testosterone is the key hormone for male sexual activity, controlling libido, sperm and sex. You may take a blood test that will check your levels of testosterone and other hormones.
In cases of low testosterone, hormonal replacement therapy may be prescribed to support erections. But not all ED results from low testosterone levels, of course. So not everyone with ED will require hormone tests.
Other Tests:
Beyond the tests mentioned above, there are additional diagnostic tests that may be ordered to assess the cause of ED.
1. Physical Examination
Physical examination is one of the most common diagnostic methods commonly used to investigate various erectile dysfunction causes. In this diagnostic process, health professionals are looking for various symptoms.
Physical exams, for example, can detect imbalances in hormones, including a reduction in highly proliferating sex hormones such as testosterone. Physicians can even check for Peyronie’s disease, which is non-curable but arising from the scar tissue that curls the penis. Moreover, in the physical examination, the doctor may detect other abnormalities that might be contributing to ED, including, but not limited to, malformation of the penis, deformity of the testicles, or other forms of vascular disease.
2. Blood Tests
erectile dysfunction tests: blood tests are crucial for conditions that cause erectile dysfunction. By assessing hormones and metabolic indicators, the practitioners are able to determine a potential source of ED from them.
In most hormonal screenings, the aim is to detect whether there’s enough testosterone, because an inadequate level of testosterone would radically change libido and libido function. Erectile dysfunction tests are very instructive; elevated blood sugar can be an indicator of diabetes, a risk and a complication of erectile dysfunction. Lipid tests tell you about the blood cholesterol levels – a marker for cardiovascular disease, which is relevant because cardiovascular disease is often accompanied by erectile dysfunction.
3. Psychological Examination
In that vein, erectile dysfunction might even be psychological in origin, particularly in younger or otherwise healthy men. Doctors might suggest a psychological assessment if they believe there is a psychological cause.
A visit to a mental health professional could therefore lead to the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety, depression or relationship issues that might be contributing to ED. Performance anxiety, stress and emotional issues can all significantly affect sex, and determining the causes will help you manage it.
4. Urine Tests
The other diagnostic instruments available include urine tests that are used to exclude or establish diabetes as a well-known co-morbid condition with erectile dysfunction. Apart from that, these tests could also help to determine a patient’s general condition by diagnosing infections or other urological conditions that may have led to impotence.
Conclusion:
In summary, ED tests (NPT, venous leak, hormone tests, and more) may provide useful information to pinpoint the origin of the crippling sexual illness. With these tests, doctors will be able to formulate a customized treatment protocol that best fits the patient’s needs. Not all ED men need to take these tests, and some can be assessed through medical history and physical examination. Any additional testing needed, however, will yield greater insights into their condition and therefore improve their prospects of a successful treatment.
