The Physical Examination
A thorough physical examination, with special attention to your genitals, can provide important information and, occasionally, reveal an obvious cause of ED. For example, small, soft, shriveled testicles or abnormal secondary sex characteristics, such as enlarged breasts or an abnormal hair pattern, suggest a hormonal problem. To solve this problem you can use cialis. The [ doctor will also carefully check the nerves in the genital, area. If the penis does not respond as expected when touched in a certain way, impotence may be attributed to a problem in the nervous system. Examination of the genitals may also reveal abnormalities that could interfere with j effective treatment, such as Peyronie’s disease, a curva-
ture of the penis caused by plaque formation. Peyronie’s disease is addressed further in Chapter 5.
The physical examination may also offer other, less obvious clues to the cause of ED. For example, the presence of high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat, or an abdominal aneurysm - a ballooning of the aorta, which is the main blood vessel leading to the heart - might indicate a circulatory problem that can affect your ability to achieve and maintain an erection.
Laboratory Tests
A number of fairly routine laboratory tests can identify treatable conditions or previously undetected medical illnesses that can contribute to ED. A basic laboratory evaluation generally includes a complete blood count, a lipid profile to determine your cholesterol level, a blood sugar test, a urinalysis, kidney and liver function tests, and a check of your morning testosterone level (see The effects of testosterone).
