Methods of Testing for Impotence
Impotence and erectile dysfunction are usually one in the same. Both describe a condition in which a man cannot get an erect penis so that he can have satisfactory intercourse. In some cases a man can get an erection, but he cannot maintain the erection. There are a number of different reasons why this can happen to any many.
In order to get tested for impotence, a man has to first get himself to a doctor. Because of the nature of this malady, many men put this off because they are embarrassed and they hope that the problem will go away. Also, many men feel that the problem is psychological. They may be worried about work or another problem. And they could very well be right.
But in some cases, the cause for impotence is not mental but physical. In most cases, the cause is hypertension, which is another name for high blood pressure. One of the first tests a doctor will perform to discover the cause of your impotence is to test for high blood pressure. A blood pressure test is easy and only takes a few minutes in the office of the doctor.
If the blood pressure appears off a little, an ultrasound will be done to determine where the blood is flowing. This can be done in the pelvic region to see what is blocking the blood flow to the area. This is also called duplex ultrasound and is very effective at determining where the blood is flowing in your body.
Blood tests may also be performed to rule out other causes such as drug or alcohol abuse or other prescription drug use. There are a host of prescription drugs that can cause impotence. A blood test can ascertain if there are any reasons why your blood is not flowing in the right direction.
Blood tests can also help rule out medical conditions such as diabetes, another very common cause for impotence. As a matter of fact, many diabetics find that they are suffering from this disease after being tested for impotence.
The muscles in the penis must be tested with a Nocturnal Penile Tumescence. This is a test to determine if the penis becomes erect during REM sleep. If a man is not having erections during REM, this can indicate that there is not sufficient blood traveling to the penile area.
The general health of an individual cannot be ruled out, either. A person who suffers from impotence is advised to get a full physical to rule out any physical causes of impotence.
In some cases, impotence is caused by psychological reasons. If this is the case, there are medications on the market that will work wonders to get them back on the right track.