Last reviewed: March 2019
Last updated: February  2019

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

  • presence of risk factors
  • abnormalities on examination of penis
  • abnormal androgenisation
Full details

Other diagnostic factors

  • premature ejaculation
  • abnormal prostate examination
  • psychosocial stressors
  • Peyronie's disease
  • genital pain or numbness
Full details

Risk factors

  • coronary arterial disease
  • peripheral arterial disease
  • hyper/hypothyroidism
  • psychosexual/relationship problems
  • excess alcohol intake
  • hypertension
  • hyperlipidaemia
  • diabetes mellitus
  • obesity
  • smoking
  • metabolic syndrome
  • neurological disease
  • radical pelvic surgery
  • spinal cord injury
  • pelvic fracture
  • Peyronie's disease
  • depression
  • premature ejaculation
  • hypogonadism
  • long-distance cycling
  • antihypertensive use
  • antidepressant use
  • corticosteroid use
  • anti-androgenic agent use
  • desire/libido disorders
  • benign prostatic hyperplasia
Full details

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

  • International Index of Erectile Dysfunction
  • Sexual Health Inventory for Men
  • fasting blood glucose
  • lipid profile
Full details

Investigations to consider

  • haemoglobin A1c in diabetic men
  • testosterone (morning)
  • follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinising hormone
  • thyroid-stimulating hormone
  • prolactin
  • Doppler ultrasonography
  • pelvic/penile angiography
Full details

Treatment algorithm

ACUTE

all patients (except those with Peyronie's disease, psychogenic ED, and previous pelvic injury with arterial compromise)

Peyronie's disease

previous pelvic injury with arterial compromise

psychogenic ED

Contributors

Authors VIEW ALL

Professor of Surgery

Division of Urology

University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine

Knoxville

TN

Disclosures

EDK declares that he has no competing interests.

Dr Edward D. Kim would like to gratefully acknowledge Dr Andrew C. Kramer, Dr Daniel H. Williams, and Dr James K. Kuan, previous contributors to this topic.

Peer reviewers VIEW ALL

Urological Surgeon

Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

JV declares that he has no competing interests.

Professor of Urology

Cellular and Molecular Medicine

The James Buchanan Brady Urological Institute

The Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore

MD

Disclosures

ALB declares that he has no competing interests.

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