Diagnosis of Erectile Dysfunction

How do health care professionals diagnose ED?

Health care professionals, including urologists, use your medical, sexual, and mental health history; a physical exam; and lab and other tests to diagnose erectile dysfunction (ED).

Medical, sexual, and mental health history

A health care professional will take a medical, sexual, and mental health history to diagnose your ED.

Health care professionals will take your medical history. They may ask what prescribed and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and supplements you take.

Your health care professional will review your sexual activity, including asking questions about

• climax
• ejaculation
• erection
• sexual desire

Health care professionals also ask questions about your mental health or emotions you are feeling. They may ask your intimate partner questions about your relationship and how it affects your ED.

This information will help your health care professional understand and diagnose your ED.

Physical exam

Health care professionals perform a physical exam to help diagnose ED. During the exam, they often check for

• blood vessel and nervous system issues
• hormonal problems
• injury to or physical problems with the penis, such as Peyronie’s disease

What tests do health care professionals use to diagnose ED?

Health care professionals may use lab, imaging, and other tests to help diagnose ED.

Lab and imaging tests

To help find the cause of ED, your health care professional may use

• blood tests, including thyroid tests and prostate tests
• ultrasound imaging to show how blood flows through the penis

Other tests

Nocturnal erection test

A nocturnal, or nighttime, erection test checks for erections you have at night. The test can help health care professionals know if your ED is due to a physical problem. You might have this test at home or in a sleep lab.

Injection test

An injection test, also called intracavernosal injection, checks if the penis can get an erection. A health care professional injects a medicine into your penis to see how full the penis gets and how long an erection lasts. The test is usually done in a health care professional’s office.