Erection problems
How do doctors diagnose erection problems?
If you have problems getting or keeping an erection, your doctor will try to find out what's causing your problems. Your doctor will probably ask you some questions about your erection problems. And you may need one or more tests.
- Do you have erections at night, when you wake up in the morning, or both? If you do, then you're physically able to have erections. So it may be that your erection problems happen because of your thoughts or feelings. Your doctor may ask if you have problems in your relationship or if anything has changed in your life.
-
Did you start having problems suddenly? If so, then something stressful may have happened to you. Or the problem may have started after you had an operation or an
injury to your groin. If your erection problems are caused by another condition, such as
diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).diabetes oratherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis is also called "hardening of the arteries." It happens when fatty material attaches to the inner wall of the arteries. Over time, cholesterol, fats and other blood components stick to the same area and the artery wall becomes thick and narrow, making it progressively more difficult for blood to flow through the affected vessels.atherosclerosis, they usually happen more gradually. - Do you take any medications? How much alcohol do you drink? Both can cause erection problems.
blood pressure
Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood on the walls of the vessels that carry it. You can think of it like the water pressure in your home: the more pressure you have, the faster and more forcefully the water flows out of the shower. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (written as mm Hg). When your blood pressure is taken, the measurement is given as two numbers, for example 120/80 mm Hg. The first, higher, number is called the systolic pressure, and the second, lower, number is the diastolic pressure. The systolic number is the highest pressure that occurs while the heart is pushing blood into the arteries. The diastolic number is the lowest pressure that happens when the heart is relaxing and is not pushing the blood.
Blood pressure is the amount of force exerted by the blood on the walls of the vessels that carry it. You can think of it like the water pressure in your home: the more pressure you have, the faster and more forcefully the water flows out of the shower. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (written as mm Hg). When your blood pressure is taken, the measurement is given as two numbers, for example 120/80 mm Hg. The first, higher, number is called the systolic pressure, and the second, lower, number is the diastolic pressure. The systolic number is the highest pressure that occurs while the heart is pushing blood into the arteries. The diastolic number is the lowest pressure that happens when the heart is relaxing and is not pushing the blood.
Your doctor may take some blood to check the levels of the following substances in your blood.
-
Hormones: If you have too much or too little of certain
hormones
Hormones are chemicals that are made in certain parts of the body. They travel through the bloodstream and have an effect on other parts of the body. For example, the female sex hormone estrogen is made in a woman's ovaries. Estrogen has many different effects on a woman's body. It makes the breasts grow at puberty and helps control periods. It is also needed to get pregnant.hormones, this can cause erection problems. -
Sugar: If you have too much sugar in your blood, you may have a condition called
diabetes
Diabetes is a condition that causes too much sugar to circulate in your blood. It happens when your body stops making a hormone called insulin (type 1 diabetes) or when insulin stops working (type 2 diabetes).diabetes. This can cause erection problems. -
Cholesterol: If you have too much
cholesterol
Cholesterol is made by your liver or absorbed from food. It is used by your body to make bile acids (which help your intestines absorb nutrients) and steroid hormones (like testosterone or estrogen). Cholesterol is also an important part of cell membranes, which are the structures that surround cells. "Good cholesterol" is called HDL; "bad cholesterol" is LDL.cholesterol in your blood, your blood vessels can become blocked. This can cause erection problems.
The doctor injects medicine into your penis to widen the arteries, so blood can flow in. Then your doctor, or a technician,
uses an
ultrasound machine. This uses sound waves to make pictures of the inside of your body. It can show whether the blood is flowing freely
through the arteries in your penis.
ultrasound
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
Ultrasound is a tool doctors use to create images of the inside of your body. The ultrasound machine sends out high-frequency sound waves, which are directed at an area of your body through a device such as a probe. The waves reflect off parts of your body to create a picture. Ultrasound is often used to see a developing baby inside a woman's womb.
This is a very specialized test that is usually done only if your doctor thinks you might need an operation on the blood vessels
going to your penis.
1
Source:
Lewis RW.
Venous surgery for impotence.
Urologic Clinics of North America. 1988; 15: 115-121.
Lewis RW.
Venous surgery for impotence.
Urologic Clinics of North America. 1988; 15: 115-121.
Cavernosometry tests if your veins are closing tightly enough to keep blood in your penis. You'll have fluid injected into
your penis at a steady rate. If your veins are working right and not leaking, the fluid will keep your penis firm during the
test.
2
Source:
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
Your doctor may recommend that you have a test called an arteriogram. It helps your doctor get a good idea of how well blood
flows in your penis.
This test isn't commonly used. You're likely to have an arteriogram only if you're young. It aims to see if you've had injury
in the area around your penis. It helps your doctor decide whether you need surgery to correct a problem in your arteries.
2
Source:
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
Morgentaler A.
Male impotence.
Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
When you have an arteriogram:
- You have an injection of a special dye
- The dye mixes with your blood
- Chemicals in the dye show up on an
X-ray
X-rays are pictures taken of the inside of your body. They are done by passing very small amounts of radiation through your body and onto film. X-rays can also be used as a treatment, such as in radiation therapy for cancer.X-ray - The X-ray gives a picture of the arteries (if there are blockages, they'll show up).
Sources for the information on this page:
- Lewis RW.Venous surgery for impotence.Urologic Clinics of North America. 1988; 15: 115-121.
- Morgentaler A.Male impotence.Lancet. 1999; 354: 1713-1718.
This information was last updated on Sep 01, 2008
This information is for educational use only, and is not a substitute for prompt professional medical advice. Readers should always consult a physician or other professional for advice and treatment.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2009. All rights reserved.
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