Tests for Erection Problems

Erection Problems Tests, Intracavernosal Injection Test (for Erection Problems), Nocturnal Penile Tumescence Test, Rigidity Test (for Erection Problems), Stamp Test (for Erection Problems)

How To Prepare

Nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test

Do not take any medicines that cause an erection, such as sildenafil (Viagra), tadalafil (Cialis), and vardenafil (Levitra), before the test.

Do not drink alcohol or take sleeping pills for 2 days before you have a nocturnal penile tumescence (NPT) test. The alcohol and the pills can change your deep (REM) sleep time, which can affect nocturnal erections.

Intracavernosal injection test

If you are having an intracavernosal injection test, tell your doctor if you:

• Are allergic to any medicine.
• Have any bleeding problems or are taking blood-thinning medicine, such as aspirin or other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), warfarin (Coumadin), clopidogrel bisulfate (Plavix), or ticlopidine (Ticlid).
• Have ever had an erection lasting more than 4 hours (priapism).

Doppler ultrasound

You may be asked to avoid products that contain nicotine (cigarettes, chewing tobacco) for 30 minutes to 2 hours before the test.

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Author:	Monica Rhodes	Last Updated: May 21, 2008
Medical Review:	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology/Oncology
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