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What
will the evaluation and diagnosis be like? (more
FAQs below)
A first appointment should typically be between 45 and 60 minutes. It
should include:
· History: Your physician will
take a thorough medical history so he can place your erectile dysfunction
within a medical context. He will also take a full sexual history. This
may include questions such as:
- How long have you had the erectile dysfunction?
- What happens when you try to have intercourse?
- Do you have decreased rigidity?
- Do you have difficulty maintaining your erection?
- If so, at what point do you lose it?
- Do you wake up at any point in the morning or while sleeping with
an erection?
- How rigid are the nocturnal erections?
- What is your sexual interest level (libido) like?
- Does your penis have a curve, bend, or twist in it when it is rigid?
- Is your ejaculation normal?
- Is it early (premature or delayed)?
- He will ask you about the status of the relationship you are in. Are
you married, divorced, single, gay, etc.?
- How is the relationship going?
- How is the erectile dysfunction affecting it?
· Information: Your physician
will explain to you how erections work (in terms that you will understand).
He will explain why yours may not be working.
· Physical Examination: Your
physician will perform a focused physical examination on your penis and
testes. In general, you should have a regular (general) physical examination
either before or after your appointment.
· Evaluation: Your physician
will usually measure the threshold for perceiving vibration of your penis
(biothesiometry). Depending on your situation he may perform specialized
testing to assess the function of your penis. This may include: 1) an
ultrasound (to measure the blood flow through the penis). 2) Rigi-scan
(to measure the quantity and quality of your nighttime erections). 3)
A blood test to measure your hormone levels.
· Treatment Options: Once your
physician has completed your evaluation, he will review treatment options
with you. He will consider these options in light of the history, physical,
and specialized testing that has been performed.
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