There are multiple ways of checking for Erectile Dysfunction. Doctors mostly check their patients through various tests, asking for medical histories and physical examinations. We enlisted some methods for you.
Blood Test
This is a common type of way that the doctor can effectively checkout for erectile dysfunction.
The doctor can take a sample of the blood and can send it to the lab and check for the signs of diabetes, heart disease, and the low testosterone levels and the about health problems in an individual.
It is a widely used test used by several doctors.
Blood tests are one the most popular method for checking erectile dysfunction because it is also one of the most wholesome methods out there.
If you wish to get an overview of other aspects of your health as well, this test is the one to go for. Blood tests can also reveal how your hormones are doing.
When checking to see your testosterone levels, the doctor will try to see if you especially suffer from low testosterone which can typically cause an inability to get or maintain an erection.
Meanwhile, the blood test can also try to see your other hormone levels to see if they are generally in a whack situation.
Your blood count and blood sugar levels can also be looked into to get a better grasp of your health in general.
All in all, getting a blood test every now and then is not a bad idea for other aspects of your health, too
Doppler ultrasound
Doppler ultrasound is one of the three most common ultrasound tests for detecting erectile dysfunction. It is an easy test that can comfortably be carried out in a doctor’s office.
That said, it is an outpatient procedure. Basically, the ultrasound device will try to scan your blood chambers in the penis.
The doctor or technician will place a hand device to scan your penis and reveal where inside your penis blood flow has been restricted.
Going to a urologist for this type of scanning is the best option.
Physical Exam
Physical examination involves the careful examination of the penis and testicles and checking the nervous sensation.
Through this examination, the doctor can detect an erectile dysfunction in an individual.
This part of the test may include the common CIS test which is a widely used method to check for erectile dysfunction in men on a physical level.
The CIS test stands for combined intracavernous injection and stimulation test.
This test will have an intracavernous injection inserted into your penis and then your penis will be stimulated for sexual arousal, then the strength of your erection will be rated.
This method is the easiest and most common to do in doctor’s offices, but the result may not be the most detailed report you will ever see.
That’s why, if it has been found that you are suffering from quite a severe case of ED, further tests may be suggested by your doctor.
Urine Test
Urine test is also the other common type of test used by the doctor to test erectile dysfunction.
Similarly, like the blood test, a urine test is used by doctors to look for signs of diabetes and other health conditions.
Through this test, the doctor can quickly know individuals who have erectile dysfunction in them.
So, if you doubt that you have erectile dysfunction, then you do not need to be surprised when the doctor asked for your urine.
The reason that the doctor seeks for signs of diabetes or a heart disease is that these two medical conditions are often the culprit for a man’s issues with ED.
Sometimes, the ED can only be a subsequent condition that comes after said diseases, but in certain cases, the ED itself may indicate the presence of a heart disease.
The mechanism of this is quite complex, so your doctor may even suggest you get checked by a cardiologist as well.
Ultra Test
This is also another type of way that the doctors can use it to determine erectile dysfunction in an individual.
It involves the use of a wand-like device, which is held over blood vessels that supply blood to the penis.
It creates a video which the doctor will see to detect if there is a blood flow problem in the penis.
This test is sometimes done with the use of an injection into the penis to aid in increasing the blood flow to the penis hence producing an erection.
This test will be able to check for any plaques that could be restricting blood flow in your arteries. When the problem has been found out, the correct treatment can begin.
Psychological Exam
It is also another examination that the doctors can use to determine erectile dysfunction in an individual.
The doctor can ask questions to check for cases of depression and the other psychological issues and check for the causes of erectile dysfunction in an individual.
When it has been found that you are indeed suffering from certain mental health issues, your treatment will be different.
Instead of getting medication that is commonly used to treat ED on the physical level, you may be directed to see a psychotherapist or sex counsellor instead.
Some cognitive behavioral therapy can often be very helpful in changing a patient’s mindset so that he no longer battles with the same mental stressors over and over again.
NPT Test
The NPT test stands for nocturnal penile tumescence test. This is a test to see how your penis performs at night during your sleep time.
It is very normal and healthy for men of all ages to get an erection several times during sleep time.
This only means that his penis is healthy and that blood flow does work towards the penis.
When this doesn’t happen much, this is when we may suspect that ED has taken over.
To perform this test, a patient will be given an outpatient device which can perform the NPT test when the patient is asleep.
Checking your medical and sexual history
Lastly, some of the ways a doctor checks for erectile dysfunction is by conducting an interview of sort. Instead of getting or diving straight into a series of tests, the doctor will ask you questions.
These questions are related to your medical and sexual history. In fact, in certain cases, this interview may be the first examination a doctor performs on you.
During this time, it is common for a doctor to ask if you’re sexually active and also about your family’s medical history.
Conclusion
Thanks for reading “How Does A Doctor Check For Erectile Dysfunction?”
Doctors use several methods to confirm symptoms of erectile dysfunction.
They undertake blood tests, physical exams, and urine tests. Other methods are ultrasound tests and psychological exams.
Blood tests establish any ailment preventing your penis from erecting. Similarly, physical exams can detect defects in the penis veins.
Your urine may reveal symptoms of chronic disease that could prevent erection. Ultra-scan tests can provide a visual picture of the penis and its arteries.
Mental and night erection tests compete with the methods doctors use to establish ED.
