1. Patient’s Medical History

There is no doubts that medical and sexual information about patients and their health condition is of a help in defining the degree and factors causing erectile dysfunction. A medical history observation can reveal diseases that lead to ED, while a simple recounting of sexual problems helps to deal with sexual desire, erection, ejaculation, or orgasm.

Taking certain prescribed medicines or illegal drugs can give a chemical cause, since drug effects account for 25 percent of ED cases. Cutting back on or substituting certain medications can often alleviate the problem.

2.Physical Examination

It goes without saying, that physical examination can give clues to systemic problems. For example, if the penis is not sensitive to touching, a problem in the nervous system may be the reason. Abnormal secondary sex characteristics, such as hair pattern or breast enlargement, can point to hormonal problems, which disclose that the endocrine system is involved. The doctor might find out a circulatory problem by observing decreased pulses in the wrist or ankles. Moreover, unusual characteristics of the penis itself could give an idea about the source of the problem—for example, a penis that bends or curves when erect could be the result of Peyronie’s disease.

3. Tests

Also, there are some laboratory tests that are responsible for ED diagnosing. Among them are tests for systemic diseases include blood counts, urinalysis, lipid profile, and measurements of creatinine and liver enzymes. Measuring the amount of free testosterone in the blood can provide information about problems with the endocrine system and is indicated especially in patients with decreased sexual desire.

Also it is proved that monitoring erections that occur during sleep (nocturnal penile tumescence) can help to figure out certain psychological causes of ED. Normally healthy men have involuntary erections during the sleeping time. If night erections do not occur, then ED is likely to have a physical rather than psychological cause. Although it is necessary to mention that tests of nocturnal erections are not completely reliable. At the moment scientists have not standardized such tests and have not determined when they should be applied for best results.

4. Psychosocial Examination

The psychosocial examination, using an interview and a questionnaire, reveals psychological factors which can cause ED. A man’s sexual partner may also be interviewed to define expectations and perceptions during sexual intercourse.