ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION: WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
In general, the doctor will start by taking your history and giving you a physical examination aimed at detecting the cause of your condition. Part of this evaluation for impotence should include checking to see if you have any underlying medical conditions which could be responsible for the problem, including diabetes, kidney disease, liver disease and blood-flow problems. If s important to check for the risk factors of heart and blood vessel disease, because erection problems can be your body’s way of signaling that your blood vessels aren’t working properly.
A workup for impotence should include:
• A complete history of your problem.
• A thorough physical examination, with special attention given to your reflexes, sensations and pulses in the leg and pelvic areas, and a good examination of your penis and testicles to check for any abnormalities.
• Blood tests to determine your testosterone (male hormone) levels.
• A complete discussion of all medications you use.
• A thorough look at your use of alcohol, cigarettes and recreational drugs.
• Sleep erection and/or penile shot tests (explained later in this chapter) to determine your physical ability to get and maintain an erection.
Depending on the results, further sophisticated nerve, blood-flow and psychological tests may be given.
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