Erectile dysfunction can be easily identified with the help of some diagnostic measures, and once this disorder is confirmed, the underlying condition behind the erectile dysfunction can then be verified.
Common Causes of Erectile Dysfunction
There are many factors that cause impotence, including obesity, poor dietary habits, and poor physical health, and sometimes cardiovascular diseases like peripheral vascular disease and coronary artery disease can also cause impotence.
Diabetics can experience erectile dysfunction at times, and blood tests can be done to verify the cause behind the dysfunction. Prolactinoma and hypogonadism can be ruled out with the help of blood tests before other tests are carried out.
Doctors will also try and find out whether the problem behind erectile dysfunction is physiological or psychological in nature. If erection does not occur for a long period of time under any circumstances, the problem can be physiological. Otherwise, if erection occurs at times intermittently, the problem can be psychological.
Given below are some diagnostic measures that can help in identifying erectile dysfunction and its root cause:
Duplex Ultrasonography
This procedure is also called duplex ultrasound. Through this test, any occlusions or blockages in the arteries can be easily identified. This is done by taking two images, a grayscale ultrasound in which the body part’s architecture is first taken and a color Doppler ultrasound in which the blood flow within the arteries is noted.
The blood velocities within all arteries can be noted through this test, and this will help in pinpointing occlusions, if any. The blood pressure in the penis and its vascular dilation is noted when the penis is erect, and this is achieved by giving the patient prostaglandin.
Penile Nerve Function
This test is carried out by doctors to check for improper nerve function in the genital region. The bulbocavernosus reflex test can help in this regard. In this test, the penis’s bulbous head is squeezed, and this causes a contraction in the anus.
However, if there is no contraction or if the contraction is minimal, there may be problems with the nerve function in the genital region.
Nocturnal Penile Tumescence
Men normally have at least five or six erections when they sleep, mainly during deep sleep. An absence of erections during REM (Rapid Eye Movement) can indicate a problem with the blood supply in the genital region. There are two ways through which doctors can measure penile circumference and rigidity during night time, and these are called strain gauge and snap gauge. Doctors use this test to zero in on erectile dysfunction.
Magnetic Resonance Angiography
This test is used to study all blood vessels within the body. In this procedure, a contrast agent is released into the individual’s blood stream so that all vascular tissues stand out, helping in monitoring the blood flow within the body. Any form of anomalies or blocks can easily be identified through this test. This is test is almost the same as Magnetic Resonance Imaging.
Corpus Cavernosometry
This is yet another test that’s used to detect erectile dysfunction. Simply put, this test is used to measure the level of pressure in the corpus cavernosum. In this procedure, saline is injected into the corpus cavernosum under pressure to induce an erection. The flow rate of saline that is required to maintain the erection over a period of time is noted, and through this, erectile dysfunction is diagnosed.
