Making the Diagnosis
To find out what's causing erection problems, a doctor will begin by asking
about other medical conditions the man might have, what medicines he's taking,
when his erection problems occur, and what form they take. Blood pressure
tests and tests of hormone levels are standard.
There are tests that aim to distinguish between psychological, nervous and
circulatory causes. One is the nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT)
test. A measuring device is attached to the penis to monitor erections during
sleep. Men without physical disorders usually have erections during REM (rapid
eye movement) sleep.
Several devices, including a Doppler radar, can track blood flow in
and out of the penis and identify circulatory problems.