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How are the causes of erectile impotence diagnosed?

Finding the cause of the problem usually begins with the patients medical and sexual history.

 The medical history covers a wide range of risk factors. There will questions about illnesses such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Also about surgery, radiation exposure or injury and questions about smoking habits and alcohol intake.

Sexual history includes questions such as: "When is the last time you had a normal erection?"; " Do you ever wake up in the morning with an erection?"; "When was the last time you had successful sexual intercourse?". Sometimes painful erections can be associated with a disease called Peyronies disease. This is a condition caused by scar tissue in the penis. Questions will be asked to find out if there are psychological reasons fro the problem, in some cases the patient may be referred to a specialist  for more extensive psychological assessment.

Physical examination will focus particular attention on the genitalia, and will test nervous and blood vessel function as well as check for plaque or scar tissue in the penis associated with Peyronies disease. There will also be an examination of the prostate through the rectum.

Samples of patient blood will be tested for testosterone, glucose (Sugar), for diabetes and vascular problems, and cholesterol (Fat in the blood). Another test is observing the response to drugs that normally stimulate erection when injected into the penis.