Evaluation and treatment of erectile dysfunction

Erectile dysfunction has an organic etiology in most cases, with vascular disease the single most common cause. In addition to a thorough history and physical examination, clinical evaluation may include hormonal assessment, diabetes screening, nocturnal tumescence testing and color Doppler flow studies of the penile vasculature. Therapy for erectile dysfunction has progressed rapidly during the past decade, with alternatives including hormone supplements, vacuum constriction devices, penile self-injection therapy and penile prostheses. The majority of patients and their partners report satisfactory results with these treatments.