Diagnosis

For many people, a physical exam and answering questions (medical history) are all that's needed for a doctor to diagnose erectile dysfunction and recommend a treatment. If you have chronic health conditions or your doctor suspects that an underlying condition might be involved, you might need further tests or a consultation with a specialist.

Tests for underlying conditions might include:

• Physical exam. This might include careful examination of your penis and testicles and checking your nerves for sensation.
• Blood tests. A sample of your blood might be sent to a lab to check for signs of heart disease, diabetes, low testosterone levels and other health conditions.
• Urine tests (urinalysis). Like blood tests, urine tests are used to look for signs of diabetes and other underlying health conditions.

• Ultrasound. This test is usually performed by a specialist in an office. It involves using a wandlike device (transducer) held over the blood vessels that supply the penis. It creates a video image to let your doctor see if you have blood flow problems.

  This test is sometimes done in combination with an injection of medications into the penis to stimulate blood flow and produce an erection.

• Psychological exam. Your doctor might ask questions to screen for depression and other possible psychological causes of erectile dysfunction.