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Evaluating ED
Evaluating ED is often dependent on having an open discussion with your patient about his sexual health. Despite increased awareness of ED as a medical condition that can be treated, many patients may not be comfortable broaching the topic of sexual health with you. For more information about how to talk to your patients about ED, click here.
The evaluation for ED should include a medical and sexual history. In addition, the following may be considered1:
- A focused physical examination and appropriate laboratory tests, including urinalysis, serum glucose, lipid profile, and testosterone levels
- The presence of vascular risk factors, such as hypertension, diabetes, serum lipid abnormalities, smoking, and coronary artery disease
- History of penile or pelvic trauma, chronic renal failure, radiation therapy, pelvic or genital surgery, and Peyronie's disease
- A psychosocial examination
ED Assessment Quiz
An ED assessment quiz for patients can be a useful tool to provide some indication of whether and to what extent the patient is experiencing ED. To download and print an ED assessment quiz to use in your practice, click the link below. This quiz is not intended as a substitute for a complete evaluation, including a physical examination and medical history.
Responses to each of the five questions are summed to arrive at a total score that can range from 0 to 25, with higher scores indicating better sexual health.
- NIH Consensus Conference. Impotence. NIH Consensus Development Panel on Impotence. JAMA. 1993;270(1):83-90.
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