The proper goal-oriented evaluation of a man proactive and complaining of erectile dysfunction requires a sympathetically elicited history, a focused physical examination and various carefully selected special investigations.
HISTORY
To obtain a clear history, it is important that the patient himself understands the distinction between loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory disturbance. This often may require some preliminary explanation. The onset, consistency and severity of the complaint need to be established. Recently, the development of self-administered symptom scores by O’Leary and colleagues and Rosen and colleagues have facilitated quantitative history-taking for erectile dysfunction.
To obtain a clear history, it is important that the patient himself understands the distinction between loss of libido, erectile dysfunction and ejaculatory disturbance. This often may require some preliminary explanation. The onset, consistency and severity of the complaint need to be established. Recently, the development of self-administered symptom scores by O’Leary and colleagues and Rosen and colleagues have facilitated quantitative history-taking for erectile dysfunction.
