After all, ED is treatable; once you understand what’s going on with your body, you’ll be armed with information to choose a treatment approach that’s best for you.
Self-Checks and At-Home Testing
You have options for performing at-home tests, either on your own or using a device recommended by your healthcare provider.
Nocturnal Penile Tumescence (NPT) Stamp Test
When sleeping, it’s common for a man to average anywhere from three to five erections per night lasting 25 to 35 minutes, according to the National Health Service (NHS) in the United Kingdom.
For people with ED, there may be an absence of night-time erections. If you’re uncertain as to whether you’re having erections while sleeping, you can try a self-test, as stated by the University of California, San Francisco Medical Center (UCSFMC). The test is called the nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) stamp test, and it involves wrapping four to six postage stamps of any variety around your penis before you go to sleep and noting changes upon waking up.
Although this specific self-test is considered outdated, if you’ve never discussed ED with a healthcare provider before, it may give you with some talking points to initiate a conversation. Also, there are no risks involved when the self-test is performed correctly.
While the stamp self-test may be able to provide you with some information as to whether or not you’re having nightly erections, it can’t provide details as to the quality or duration of them. Ultimately, if you suspect ED, you should make an appointment to see your healthcare provider.
You’ll need a strip of four to six postage stamps for each night, and you’ll perform the self-test three nights in a row. Wear brief-style underwear with a fly. Position the penis so that it’s through the fly, and keep most of your pubic hair inside the briefs. Using the stamps, make a tight ring around the shaft of the penis. Make sure the stamps overlap so that you can moisten the top one and seal it over the bottom one. Allow the stamps to dry for a minute or two, and reposition the penis back inside the briefs. The underwear will help to hold the stamps in place while you sleep. At first, the stamps may feel a bit strange or uncomfortable. When you awaken, check to see if your stamp ring has torn along any of the perforations. If you awake in the middle of the night and notice you have an erection, UCSFMC recommends checking it and assessing its firmness.
RigiScan
Your healthcare provider may offer you more up-to-date options for at-home testing, like a portable home device called the RigiScan. This device is one you can take home with you and it provides more detailed information, including penile rigidity and engorgement, measured by loops attached to the penis before sleeping.
The data is stored on the portable computing device and can be reviewed and printed on command. Overall, the device is easy to use and requires little training. You should discuss the feasibility and costs with your provider.
Labs and Tests
When you see your healthcare provider, they’ll gather your health history, ask additional follow-up questions regarding your sexual health, and perform a physical exam. In some instances, this may be all the healthcare provider needs to make an accurate diagnosis of ED and provide you with treatment options.
However, if the healthcare provider believes an underlying condition may be contributing to ED, they might suggest additional testing or an appointment with a specialist for the following.
A Physical Examination
The healthcare provider may examine your penis, testicles, patterns of hair loss on certain parts of your body, or the presence of gynecomastia—a condition where the breast tissue in a man swells in response to hormone imbalances.
Also, your physical assessment could include a rectal exam to evaluate your prostate as well as the tone of the muscles of the pelvic floor. Finally, your healthcare provider might check out your heart and lung function to help determine the best course of action regarding treatment.
Blood Tests
If it’s been a while since you’ve seen a healthcare provider, they may choose to run some basic blood work such as a complete blood count (CBC) and a comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP). The data collected from these blood tests provide your practitioner with an overview of how your body is functioning.
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Other blood panels your healthcare provider may request include testosterone levels (most accurately done between 8 am and 11 am), a thyroid panel, B12 levels, or other more specific tests that provide insight into your unique situation. Discuss what your healthcare provider hopes to gather from this information.
Urine Test
Underlying illnesses like diabetes can be responsible for causing or worsening ED. Urine tests screen for the presence of diabetes or other health conditions. If your healthcare provider suspects you have one of these illnesses, they may recommend a urine test or urinalysis.
Mental Health Evaluation
Psychological factors like depression or anxiety can cause ED. As a result, your healthcare provider might ask you a series of questions about your mental health. Just try to answer the questions honestly and to the best of your ability so that your practitioner can make appropriate treatment recommendations to support your emotional health and well-being.
Imaging
If your healthcare provider needs to examine the blood flow to the penis further, they’ll likely do a test in the office using doppler ultrasound. This is often done with the addition of injection of medication (intracavernosal) into the penile corporal bodies to look at blood flow into and out of the penis. Medications include prostaglandin E1 or Trimix which is a mixture of papaverine, phentolamine, and prostaglandin.
Typically, ultrasounds are outpatient tests, and the procedure isn’t painful.
Differential Diagnoses
In many instances, once the healthcare provider has reviewed any relevant medical and sexual history and performed a physical exam, they can make a preliminary diagnosis of ED. Some healthcare providers might choose to prescribe a trial dose of an oral medication to treat ED—medications are generally safe for healthy men.
However, if your symptoms of ED are accompanied by another condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, or prostate problems, your healthcare provider will need to take a more in-depth look at your particular situation to determine a plan of care.
Bulbocavernous reflex test, used to evaluate penile nerve sensationsCavernosometry, in which fluid is injected into the penis to measure vascular pressurePenile biothesiometry, used to see if your penis responds to vibrationSnap gauge penile bands, used to check if you have nighttime erections
Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)Diabetic neuropathyHyperprolactinemia (high prolactin levels)Kidney failurePeyronie’s diseaseNeurological conditions like Parkinson’s diseasePrescription drugs like SSRI antidepressantsPsychological issues, including performance anxiety and depressionSurgery, such as prostate surgery
