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Impotence Diagnosis
There are different means to figure out impotence. Many a times, if diagnosed in its preliminary stages there are is a possibility that you could find some remedy to this problem. Some of the ways to diagnose this are:
Physician diagnosis
A physician's diagnosis could be the formal way of approaching this problem. The first step in the medical management of erectile dysfunction is taking a thorough sexual, medical, and psychosocial history. Some of the steps in this examination could include:
- Your doctor asking you if you have difficulty obtaining an erection, if the erection is suitable for penetration, if the erection can be maintained until the partner has achieved orgasm, if ejaculation occurs, and if both partners have satisfaction
- You could be asked about current medications you are taking, about any surgery you may have had, and about other disorders (history of trauma, prior prostate surgery, or radiation therapy, for example)
- The doctor would want to know all medications you have taken during the past year, including all vitamins and other dietary supplements
- It is always advisable that you tell the doctor about your tobacco use, alcohol intake, and caffeine intake, as well as any illicit drug use
Your doctor will be looking for indications of depression. You will be asked about libido (sexual desire), problems and tension in your sexual relationship,
Physical Examination
A physical examination could give clues for systemic problems. For example, if the penis does not respond as expected to certain touching, a problem in the nervous system may be a cause. Abnormal secondary sex characteristics, such as hair pattern, can point to hormonal problems, which would mean the endocrine system is involved.
A circulatory problem might be indicated by, for example, an aneurysm in the abdomen. And unusual characteristics of the penis itself could suggest the root of the impotence--for example, bending of the penis during erection could be the result of Peyronie's disease.
Laboratory Tests
Several laboratory tests can help diagnose impotence too. Tests for systemic diseases include blood counts, urinalysis, lipid profile, and measurements of creatinine and liver enzymes.
Psychosocial Examination
A psychosocial examination, using an interview and questionnaire, reveals psychological factors. The man's sexual partner also may be interviewed to determine expectations and perceptions encountered during sexual intercourse.
Since an erection requires a sequence of events, impotence can occur when any of the events is disrupted. The sequence includes nerve impulses in the brain, spinal column, and area of the penis, and response in muscles, fibrous tissues, veins, and arteries in and near the corpora cavernosa.