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Last reviewed: 16 Mar 2025
Last updated: 18 Sep 2024

Summary

Definition

History and exam

Key diagnostic factors

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

Other diagnostic factors

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

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

Diagnostic investigations

1st investigations to order

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

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

Treatment algorithm

Contributors

Authors

Omer Raheem, MD, MSc, MCh, MRCS

Assistant Professor of Surgery and Urology

The University of Chicago Medical Center

Pritzker School of Medicine

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

OR declares that he has no competing interests.

Anjali Shekar, MD

Urology Resident

The University of Chicago Medical Center

Pritzker School of Medicine

Chicago

IL

Disclosures

AS declares that she has no competing interests.

Acknowledgements

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

Disclosures

EDK, ACK, DHW, and JKK declare that they have no competing interests.

Peer reviewers

Justin Vale, MS, FRCS

Urological Surgeon

Imperial Healthcare NHS Trust

London

UK

Disclosures

JV declares that he has no competing interests.

Arthur L. Burnett, MD

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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