Erectile Dysfunction Specialist

How is erectile dysfunction diagnosed?

When you sit down and talk with Dr. Lafferty, he’ll get a full medical history and analyze your symptoms. He’ll order some lab work to determine if anything in your body is off, such as hormone levels or signs of heart disease. During this visit, he’ll probably conduct a physical exam to see if there is anything he can see or feel on your penis and testicles that might be causing your issues. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, Dr. Lafferty might also order an ultrasound to get imaging of the blood flow to your penis. The combination of all of these evaluations will help get to you the proper diagnosis.

Why should I be concerned about erectile dysfunction?

Erectile dysfunction can be a side effect of something more serious going on in your body. You should be concerned about erectile dysfunction because it could be a warning sign of:

• High blood pressure
• High cholesterol
• Heart disease
• Atherosclerosis
• Metabolic syndrome
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes
• Prostate abnormalities
• Obesity

Erectile dysfunction is sometimes linked to other undiagnosed chronic conditions, like certain types of cancer, Parkinson’s disease, or multiple sclerosis. It might even stem from the medications you take, even if they’re over-the-counter. This is why it’s so important to let Dr. Lafferty know about all medications you take.

What types of treatments are available?

Dr. Lafferty will help you determine which treatment option is best for your lifestyle and symptoms. You may benefit from:

• Oral medications
• Self-administered injections
• Testosterone replacement
• Penile suppositories
• Penis pumps
• Penile implants
• Aerobic exercise

Can I do anything to prevent erectile dysfunction?

Sometimes. The best thing you can do for prevention is to stay at a healthy weight. Start exercising more and eating right. This will reduce your risk of chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease that often cause problems with erectile dysfunction. Quitting smoking and cutting back on your alcohol intake are also beneficial for erectile dysfunction prevention.

You can also reduce stress in your life and seek help if you’re suffering from depression. When you have a lasting relationship with your primary care physician, like Dr. Lafferty, he can keep tabs on warning signs of health issues. This can help minimize any issues you may have with erectile dysfunction later on down the line.