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 medications he's taking, when his erection problems occur, and what form they take.
Standardized questionnaires or surveys about erectile function and the satisfaction of sexual intercourse may be used to identify the nature of erectile difficulties. 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.