Sexual and pharmacostimulated erections are proportional

Even complex diagnostic tests may not establish aetiology and degree of ere ctile dysfunction (ED) in many patients. Therefore, we evaluated a self-rep ort method with a restrictive focus to quality of erections which may yield information sufficient to make an aetiologic diagnosis. We studied 74 pati ents 25 to 75 years of age with untreated ED. Sexually stimulated erections were quantified and compared to duplexsonographically and clinically evalu ated data from pharmacostimulated erections. Patients reported that there w as a marked decrease in ability to penetrate the partner, to sustain an ere ction and of penile rigidity (p < 0.001). Parameters from duplexsonography and clinically assessed response to pharmacostimulation correlated (r = 0.7 2). Direct comparison of these data with quantified history showed no relat ion (r = 0.05). Using change in penile Volume due to erection as a basis to compare with, showed significant correlation with quantified data from his tory (r = 0.26-0.34; p < 0.03) and measured parameters from pharmacostimula ted erections (r = 0.44-0.55; p < 0.0001). Sexually- and pharmacostimulated erections are proportional to change in penile volume. Although there is a relation between erections emerging from both stimulations, quantifying hi story on sexually stimulated erections does not qualify to make an aetiolog ic diagnosis without using complex tests.